The government will focus on reducing post-harvest losses and increasing shelf-life of farm produces in order to boost farmers' income, newly-appointed Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said today.
"My mission will be to find new and innovative ways to reduce post-harvest losses by facilitating efficient storage and transportation as well as finding ways to increase the shelf-life of food products," she said after assuming charge.
Badal, the daughter-in-law of Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Bathinda constituency in Punjab.
Stating that farmers' income level has been stagnant, she said: "The time has come to give a boost to the income of our farmers through innovative value addition to farm produces."
The government will also ensure that processed food products are available to consumers at reasonable prices, she added.
"I would welcome all ideas from farmers, the industry, consumers and other stakeholders to put our country at par with the top countries in the area of food processing," the Minister said.
She also thanked the Prime Minister for giving well deserved representation to women in newly formed Cabinet.
