Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti Minister of State, Ministry of Food Processing Industries said at an ASSOCHAM event, food processing industry is playing a central role in linking producers with the consumers and hence has an important role in influencing the farming as well as distribution practices. It is major sources of employment and income generation for rural India. The food-processing sector has emerged as an important segment of the Indian economy in terms of its contribution to GDP, employment and investment.
The Indian Foods & Beverage industry is poised for a significant leap forward — these are interesting times and continued success will depend on a proper understanding of the landscape and challenges therein, quickly exploiting emerging opportunities, skillful execution of strategic mergers and acquisitions and effecting a seamless organization to evolve into truly global players. The total food production in India is expected to double in the next ten years and there is ample opportunity for huge investments in food and food processing technologies, skills and equipment.
The Government has introduced several schemes to provide financial assistance for setting up and modernizing of food processing units, creation of infrastructure, support for research and development and human resource development in addition to other promotional measures to encourage the growth of the processed food sector.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is working in close collaboration with Food Industry Capacity and Skill Initiative (FICSI), the Sector Skill Council (SSC) in food processing and regularly guiding and assisting it in achieving its mandate. The Ministry is helping to strengthen the SSC in this sector by helping in all possible ways to complete the validations of the Qualification Packs (QPs) for each job role that have been developed and also helping in development of the course curriculum through National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), an institute under this ministry. The Ministry is also conducting weekly meetings with all stakeholders to review the progress.
Others who also spoke during the conference were Vikas Jain, Jt. MD, PMV Nutrient Products; MK Vaid, Asst. VP, Ruchi Soya Industries; and DS Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM.
