Prahlad Singh Patel, Hon’ble Minister of State (MOS), Ministry of Food Processing and Jal Shakti of India
MOS For Food Processing Prahlad Singh Patel Underlines The Use Of Right Techniques For Food Processing Sector
16th ANUTEC – International FoodTec India 2022
“It is imperative for us to find innovative solutions suiting to our agroclimatic & socio-cultural requirements. Adopting models from other countries is neither feasible nor scientific. We request the government to help by letting adjudications take place within the State of Registration of the Entrepreneur that will give him more time to attend to production rather than running to distant locations and getting stressed under unnecessary harassment and exploitation, which kills sustenance”, said Subodh Jindal, Immediate Past President, All India Food Processors’ Association.
Jindal was addressing the Food Industry’s concerns to Prahlad Singh Patel, Hon’ble Minister of State (MOS) for Ministry of Food Processing and Jal Shakti of India, during the 16th ANUTEC – International FoodTec India 2022, India’s largest International Exhibition for Food & Drink Technology.
While Addressing industry’s challenges Prahlad Singh Patel said “reducing compliance is important but alone it will not suffice to ensure the growth of Food Processing Sector, as there is also an urgent need to adopt the right techniques and momentum for processing our farm outputs particularly items like fruits and vegetables with short shelf life. Regulatory sampling should be done very carefully so that product parameters & quality do not degrade with time. Similarly, there are gaps in adopting the right type of machinery which will help in overcoming the challenges at hand and ensure food security to make us move further towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
While commenting on Sustainability of Food Processing Industry, Milind Dixit, Managing Director, Koelnmesse India YA Trade Fairs Says “With a strong agricultural background and several favourable trends supporting its progress, the Indian food processing industry has an appetite to create global food brands. India can become a food factory as our organic and super foods stand out in the global market. We need to continue to focus on Brand India, quality first, minimum governance, maximum control for quality & output, farmer’s safety & growth, innovative processing solutions and smart equipment, and the country could be well on its way to carve a niche for itself in the Global Food processing sector.”
“India is a leading producer for millets (40%), but do we have the right technique to process the same? Government can only provide financial support to the sector through various schemes and policies such as PLI, PMKSY, PMFME but it is only by deploying the right technological know-how and machines that can expedite the growth of the sector. India has the potential to fill the demand gaps in the Global Food Market but the industry, scientists and government will have to work together to create a roadmap to take the industry forward”, further added Patel.
“We should try to maintain the integrity of our Heritage Foods in terms of taste and use of natural ingredients. We request the government to provide hand holding for designing & fabrication of low-cost efficient indigenous machines suitable for lakhs of our MSME food units in the country” added Raghav Jadli, President of AIFPA.
India is today the leading provider of Agri commodities to the world. According to a recent report by FICCI, India’s food production industry is worth over $400 billion.
