New Delhi: Anita Praveen, secretary of the Ministry of Meals Processing, emphasised the pivotal function of analysis and improvement (R&D) in propelling the Indian meals processing sector to larger heights.
Talking on the FICCI Scientific Symposium on ‘Processed Meals for Goal’, Praveen highlighted the sector’s vital potential for progress and its standing as a precedence space inside India’s agricultural panorama. (Additionally Learn: Over 20,000 Zomato Riders To Present Medical Assist In Roadside Emergencies: CEO Deepinder Goyal)
Praveen said, “The Indian agriculture sector is witnessing a strong progress with document ranges of manufacturing and Meals Processing sector has turn into one of many precedence sectors for progress.” She added, “We’ve already reached excessive ranges of progress with the sources we now have. There’s a want now for the meals processing sector with R&D as focus for taking the sector to the subsequent stage.” (Additionally Learn: seventh Pay Fee: Central Govt Revises Staff’ Allowances — Learn In Element)
She underscored the pivotal function of the meals processing sector in driving financial progress and producing employment alternatives, significantly for micro and small enterprises. “Meals processing sector is without doubt one of the giant funding mills significantly for the micro and small sector and has the potential to convey extra non-public investments,” mentioned Praveen.
“With the sources at our disposal, we now have achieved substantial progress. Now, the main focus should shift in the direction of leveraging R&D to propel the sector to new heights,” she remarked. The Secretary outlined the strategic benefits of the meals processing trade, citing considerable availability of uncooked supplies at aggressive costs and burgeoning client demand each domestically and internationally.
“This sector has benefits of excessive uncooked supplies availability at cheaper value, excessive client calls for each in home and worldwide markets. That is the time to offer a push to the meals processing trade”, Praveen mentioned.
Praveen additionally addressed the urgent difficulty of meals wastage, emphasising the necessity for complete waste administration methods at each stage, from farm to fork. She harassed the significance of direct engagement between trade gamers, farmers, and micro-level processing models to reinforce effectivity and minimise wastage.
“The time is correct to convey these micro models and hyperlink them with giant industries. The downward linkage method might be advantageous for giant industries to regulate high quality, keep requirements and have a sustained provide chain,” she added.
“The trade ought to deal with educating the buyer, and we should undertake a balanced method to this instructional initiative. Customers should know what they’re consuming, and high quality meals manufacturing is the duty of the trade,” she added.
To spice up exports, Praveen advocated for nearer collaboration between giant industries and smaller models, emphasizing the significance of high quality management and sustaining sturdy provide chains. She highlighted the trade’s duty in client schooling, advocating for transparency and a balanced method to fostering consciousness about meals high quality and security.
Siraj Hussain, Advisor to the FICCI Meals Processing Committee and Former Secretary of the Ministry of Meals Processing Industries, echoed Praveen’s sentiments, emphasizing the crucial function of meals processing in making certain meals security and diet.
“Meals processing serves as a crucial hyperlink between farm and fork. It acts as a catalyst for financial progress, producing employment alternatives and driving innovation throughout the meals sector. The function of meals processing in offering protected, wholesome and nutritious meals has now taken centre stage,” Hussain mentioned.
He underscored the sector’s potential as a driver of financial progress and innovation. Sanjay Khajuria, president of CIFTI-FICCI and director, Company Affairs at Nestle India Ltd, hailed meals processing as a ‘dawn sector’, lauding its progress in modernisation and sustainable financial progress.
“Meals Processing sector is taken into account as a dawn sector and has achieved notable progress by way of modernization and sustainable financial progress lately,” he mentioned. Dr Seema Bathla, professor on the Centre for the Examine of Regional Growth, Jawaharlal Nehru College, highlighted the 4 key parts of the Indian agriculture meals system: manufacturing, consumption, ecology, and setting.
“The Indian agriculture meals system has 4 key parts which embrace manufacturing, consumption, ecology and setting,” she mentioned. With projections indicating an upward pattern, India’s meals processing sector’s output is predicted to soar greater than USD 600 billion by the fiscal 12 months 2025-26.
