Governmental Advantages towards Food Processing Industry India

Food Processing Industry (FPI) acts as a gateway to bridge the gap between the two main pillars of Indian Economy; Agriculture and Industry. The urging need for healthy and nutritious organic food behests the Food processing sector to develop in order to cater to the needs of the consumers. Being the largest producer, consumer and exporter of various products like milk and milk products, various fruits and vegetables and pulses, several measures have been taken by the government to promote and develop the sector. Several schemes have been launched by the government through the Ministry of Food Processing Industry (MOFPI) to boost the growth of the sector.

The necessity to develop the sector came into existence especially with the rising concerns regarding the wastage. As per the UN estimation, nearly 40% of the produced food is wasted or lost. In October 2018, Union Minister for Food Processing Industry Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal carried out the Swacchta Pakhwad set for October 16^th – 31^st, a campaign set out to assist cleanliness measures at sites. She also launched the release of a booklet “Waste to Wealth Technology”.

News Updates and Schemes

• World Food India– An event which is one of the world’s largest food industry events which intends to establish global linkages and to promote foreign investment in India. For the year 2019, the event is taking place on the 1^st of November lasting for four days till the 4^th of November.
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)– The scheme has promised to generate 5, 30,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities in 2019-20.
• Gram Samridhi Yojana– The aim to support the unorganized food processing units mostly concentrated in the rural area which amounts to up to 66% of unorganized food processing units.
• Rs 3,000 crore scheme to help the cottage industry, farmers produce, individual food processors to enhance their business by increasing capacity, upgrading technology and get skilled improvement. Entrepreneurship development and strengthen the supply chain can also be adapted under the scheme for which the organization can head to food consultants to get better consultation.

Apart from these, MOFPI uses 4 main components to promote the FPI namely:

1. Seminars/workshops– The ministry provides up to 50% of the cost (5 lakhs maximum) if the event is organized by following the guidelines of MOFPI.
2. Studies and Surveys– The ministry undertakes the studies and survey and their website provides Annual report as well as monthly summaries which list down the schemes that were launched as well as the achievements of MOFPI. The report also carries the events that were organized during the period. This is accessible by the general public
3. Regarding the Exhibitions and Fairs, however, the Ministry only provides the financial assistance for space rentals, construction of stalls, and audio-visual equipment to participants that are either the ministry by itself or organizations that are in close assistance with the ministry like APEDA, CFTRI, etc.
4. Finally, regarding the advertisement and publicity, the ministry calls for a tender and the tender is given out through the bidding process.

The ministry’s main objective of the promotional method is to bring awareness of the launched schemes, to participate in seminars and workshops, to encourage investments in the food processing sector as well as to promote and develop the sector.