Exploring
the food rule!
The Ministry of Food Processing is in consultation with stakeholders,
to develop a food processing policy focusing on building up this sector
in the next five years
The
farming sector has come a long way since independence. From a country
beset with shortages, India has attained self-sufficiency in food with
sectoral surpluses emerging in production. With the growing economy,
a shift is also being seen in the 'food basket'-from consumption of
cereals to a more varied and nutritious diet of fruit and vegetables,
milk, fish, meat and poultry products. These changes bring to light
the imperatives of an emerging industry called Food Processing. The
Food Processing sector though in the nascent stage, constitutes 14 per
cent of manufacturing GDP and amounts to products value of Rs 2, 80,000
crore. With the current employment of 130 lakh individuals in this sector,
it has the propensity to promote indirect employment 2.4 times. Employment
for value added services is large compared to the manufacturing sector
as a whole. Over the last decade or so, food processing has grown at
a rate of 7.1 per cent per annum. The higher rate of growth as compared
to the agriculture growth rate is indicative of its low base, the increased
availability of surpluses, changing life styles, tastes and higher disposable
income with consumers. The forecasted annual growth rate in the next
five years is 7.3 per cent per annum. The area of responsibility of
the Ministry of Food Processing Industries encompasses grain milling,
milk, meat, poultry, fish confectionary, bakery, convenience foods,
and fruit and vegetable processing sectors, aerated drinks, beer and
non-molasses based alcoholic drink. These industries as a group, have
a turnover of Rs 1,50,000 crore and have shown a higher rate of growth.
Furthermore, they are expected to maintain this trend and grow at the
rate of 7.3 per cent per annum in the next five years. This policy is
with regard to areas of responsibility of the Ministry.
Objectives and Goals
The stepped up growth of food processing should
lead to the fulfilment of:
• Higher farmer incomes and the providing of a larger as well stable
market for farmer produce.
• Reduction of wastage in farm produce.
• Provision of nutritious, safe food and wider consumer choice.
• Enhancing employment opportunities by way of direct and indirect
employment.
With a view to achieve the above objectives, in the next five years,
we should aim for a compound annual growth of nearly double of what
was achieved in the last half decade. Industry along with government
and concerned institutions shall need to act in concert to achieve these
goals.
Constraints and Strategies Across Sectors
Affordability & Costs of Processed
Food
As against the developed countries, where processed
and fresh food prices are reasonably priced or at times even cheaper
than fresh ...
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