Panel to identify bottlenecks in food processing: Sahay

The Union minister of state for food processing industries, Subodh Kant Sahay said state-level panels will be set up to identify the bottlen...

The Union minister of state for food processing industries, Subodh Kant Sahay said state-level panels will be set up to identify the bottlenecks and suggest development of the sector in specific regions of the country.

Inaugurating a conference of state ministers in charge of food processing industries in the Capital on Friday, Sahay said the central government has decided to extend all possible help to the states in setting up one modern ‘food park’ each in all of the country’s parlimentary constituencies. ‘‘The Centre is willing to support establishment of one modern food processing industry/food park in each parliamentary constituency in the country,’’ he said.

He informed that a group of ministers (GoM) of the central government is working out modalities for a national food processing policy. The GoM is also expected to recommend setting up of a single regulatory authority and an integrated food law. He asked the states to send in their views to the GoM.

Sahay said his ministry would assist setting up quality labs in four zones in the country. This would encourage upgradation of quality standards in the sector, he said. He regretted that a number of states did not have food processing departments. He favoured changes in the existing laws in different states to facilitate private operators and cooperatives’ participation in regulated markets.