The Hindu Business Line : Tap processed foods market: Sahai

INSTEAD of using oilseeds for extracting edible oil, the industry should look at processing and value addition of the produce, Mr Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries (Independent Charge), has said.

Inaugurating the Golden Jubilee function of Indian Oilseeds and Produce Exporters Association (IOPEA) here earlier this week, the Minister said the immense potential of processed foods market needs to be tapped by the industry and assured that his Ministry would support ventures that result in value addition to food crops.

Listing some of the promotional incentives given by the Ministry, he said the Government would assist processors who establish backward linkages with subsidy, and help set up testing facilities or laboratories. Foreign direct investment in food processing is allowed, he pointed out.

In addition to the recently-enacted new food law which merges several old laws into a single one, the Government was working on a law to promote contract farming, Mr Sahai told the gathering of processors and exporters of oilseeds such as groundnut and sesameseed.

Mr Kishore Tanna, Chairman of IOPEA, in his annual address to members referred to low productivity as the bane of Indian agriculture and warned that when domestic supplies tighten as a result of consistently unsteady production and rising demand, uncertainties relating to business and investment would occur, and lead to loss of confidence.

Referring to the series of measures to improve quality standards of products exported, following several rapid alerts issued by the European Union against Indian peanuts, he exhorted exporters to act with the objectives of maintaining food safety and traceability.

A European Commission delegation (FVO Mission on aflatoxin in peanuts) has decided to carry out inspection of Indian peanut production and processing systems sometime in November this year, Mr Tanna said adding that shelling and grading units here must set up systems that are acceptable to the EU.

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