Govt to frame National Food Processing Policy

The government is in process of putting in pace the National Food Processing Policy, which will become a mechanism for development of entire food processing sector in India. This was stated by Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister for Food Processing Industries, during the first meeting of the reconstituted National Food Processing Development Council (NFPDC).
 
The meeting was attended by Prathipati Pulla Rao, Minister for Agriculture & Agri Processing, Government of Andhra Pradesh and Krishnamoorthy, Minister for Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu, various stakeholders and industry associations. NFPDC members included Suguna Poultry Farm Limited, Tetra Pak India Pvt Ltd, Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad, Allahabad Canning Company, Dabur India Ltd, MTR Foods, Allanasons Limited, Mapro Foods and Elmac Agro (I) Pvt Ltd.
 
Indicating that the food processing sector will soon witness a positive changes, the Minister said, “The sector in fact needs transition from licence/approval regime to registration regime so that government clearances do not hold up the growth of the sector. All states should ensure that food processing projects are cleared within the stipulated timeframe.”
 
Badal urged the states to ensure that a single-window clearance system is brought in the entire country and asked states to be proactive towards food processing as this is the sector which has the potential to become growth engine of our agriculture.
 
A fund of Rs 2000 crores has already been set up under NABARD to make affordable credit available to the agro-processing units.
 
The minister opined that ‘Make in India’ growth story cannot be written without the chapter of food processing.