Center takes initiatives to harness food & horticulture potential

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Food Processing Industries, Rural Development, and Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar addressed the 3rd edition of the Northern Zone Food Processing Summit organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) through video conference.

Speaking on occasion, Tomar said, “The Government of India has taken several initiatives to harness the food and horticulture potential of the country. The initiative will encourage investment and development in the agriculture sector and provide a better environment for the existing enterprises. Further, the Government is also committed to the development of the food processing sector.”

“As a part of the self-reliant India campaign, a new production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the food processing industry was launched, under which about Rs11 thousand crores will be spent,” he said.

Tomar said that the Ministry of Food Processing Industries had launched the Prime Minister formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to enhance the competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized sector. The scheme focuses on supporting groups engaged in agri-food processing, such as Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), and producer cooperatives across their value chain.

Tomar added that CII is a premier industry organization, helping to lead the country on the path of development. Calling for cooperation to take the benefits of the government initiatives to all the farmers, the minister said that the Ministry of Food Processing Industries is working on these initiatives in a planned manner.

He urged CII to conduct a comparative study on the available food grains and horticulture resources in the country with their processing so that the Government of India could devise a strategy to fill the gaps.

Speaking on occasion, Manoj Joshi, additional secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, emphasized the need for joint efforts by the Government and industry to fortify processed food and meet the changing consumer preferences.