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Chennai hosts IACC’s national meet on India’s food processing industry
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Saturday, 20 September, 2014, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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fiogf49gjkf0d The national conclave on the Indian food processing sector was organised by the Indo- American Chamber of Commerce (IACC), on September 18, 2014, at Chennai.
C Suresh Reddy, chairman, Tamil Nadu, IACC, welcomed food processing industries minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal; Dr U Venkateswarulu, joint secretary to the ministry, and the delegates to the National Conclave conference.
In his welcome address, the chairman mentioned the contribution of food industry to the country’s gross domestic product, and the importance of the food processing sector in the India.
With immense potential for further growth, both in the domestic and export markets, he suggested the immediate need for the stakeholders to come together in taking the industry to the next level.
He thanked the ministry of food processing industries (MOFPI), the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority (APEDA) and the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) for supporting IACC in organising this conference.
Chella K Srinivasan, national president, IACC, appreciated the new government initiatives and expected that it would change the food processing industry scenario in the near future and the prime minister’s proposed visit to the United States is expected to increase the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Shanker Gopalkrishnan, chairman, National Conclave, IACC, gave an overview of the programme and mentioned that the conference is planned to address the key issues of the various stakeholders of the food processing industry.
Badal, in her keynote address mentioned that with increase in population, food consumption in the country has increased multi-fold and with land area for agriculture shrinking, the need to grow more in lesser land has been a big challenge to the industry.
One of the key issues that needs immediate attention are poor infrastructure bottlenecks, resulting in higher wastage of perishable food products. This, in turn adds to the inflation.
The minister mentioned that the food processing ministry is working towards making food available at affordable prices to all strata of the Indian population. Uplifting farmers, skill development, keeping inflation under control are some of its key focus areas.
The government allocated Rs 2,000 crore for the food processing industry, and loans are being provided at subsidised rates through the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
For instance, the duty has been reduced from ten per cent to six per cent for importing machinery for the food processing sector.
Within the food processing sector, fruit and vegetables are of prime focus as the export market for these is immense, and the United States has been the key destination for several years now.
Badal added that the government of India has a scheme for setting up mega food parks, and invited entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu to take advantage of the same.
The minister welcomed views and ideas for promoting the food processing industry from the various stakeholders of the supply chain.
In his vote of thanks, A Sekhar, vice-chairman, IACC, Tamil Nadu, thanked the minister for her encouraging words and assured that the minister’s suggestion would be discussed with various stakeholders.
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