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MoFPI gets budgetary allocation of Rs 6,000 crore for next five years
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Saturday, 19 November, 2016, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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fiogf49gjkf0d The ministry of food processing industries (MoFPI)received a budgetary allocation of Rs 6,000crore by the government to spend over the next five years. The allocation is a boost for the ministry, whose budget was slashed earlier. Some MoFPI schemes, such asthe National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) was handed over to the states for implementation.
Calling it a major step, Harsimrat Kaur Badal,minister for food processing and industries, said that the ministry had made plans to further expand the reach of processing to the micro level to uplift the whole food processing sector and double it to 20 per cent from the current level.
The minister added that continuous deliberations were taking place in the ministry for newer ideas and plans that could benefit the sector.
Badal said, “The budgetary allocation of Rs 6,000 crore to MoFPI is a part of thegovernment’s budget planning. We are deliberating on other schemes to uplift the food processing industry from the current level of 10 per cent to 20 per cent.”
She added that plans such as the one based on small clusters for the local agri produce is being considered by the ministry. “We are notonly focusing on the mega parks to reduce wastage, but small clusters based on local produce like ginger, turmeric, etc. could also play a vital role in development of the food processing sector and addto the farmers’ income.”
Besides clusters, the ministry is also aiming at disbursing the amount to the other related sub-sectors of processing industry. Badal said,“The amount will be disbursed to the other related sectors within the processing sector like cold chain or transportation. Creating hubs for distribution, upgrade of machinery, connecting farmers to the industry and creating the infrastructure required were also under consideration.”
The minister added that her ministry had received several queries from potential investors ready to invest into the food retail business and several commitments were made during her visits to England and France. She added that her ministry was working to provide the investors a platform, guiding them in their investment in the country.
However, on the question of allowing the sale of personal care products under the same roof, Badal said there was no decision so far, and that her ministry only got a proposal from the industry. Before any final decision with regards to this proposal, there would be a discussion in the cabinet.
On the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) fund, the minister said that her ministry was ready to make the fund open to everyone but before that her aim was to populate all the envisaged mega food parks.
“Eventually, we will open the NABARD fund. But since so much is invested in mega parks, the priority is to get these populated first. Once it is done, we will certainly open the NABARD fund to all,” Badal said.
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