The Hindu Business Line : Opening of markets cannot be one-sided, says Bengal CM

The FICCI President, Mr Onkar S. Kanwar, with the Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Mr Subodh Kant Sahai, and the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, at the "Food World India 2005" conference in the Capital on Monday. - Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Nov 28

THE food processing industry will require a minimum investment of Rs 1,10,000 crore in order to treble its current size over the next ten years. This was stated by Mr D.P. Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, at 3-day Foodworld 2005 summit organised by FICCI.

"The industry has been growing at a rate of 7.1 per cent annually. The higher rate of growth as compared to the agricultural growth and GDP is indicative of the increased availability of surpluses, changing life styles and higher disposable income," he said.

The West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who was present on the occasion, emphasised the need for foreign capital for the sector particularly for agriculture, but also made it very clear that India would not succumb to international pressure to open markets without a reciprocal gesture from the developed nations.

While addressing the conclave, the Bengal Chief Minister said: "We need private domestic and international investment and accept that globalisation is a fact of life, but we have to bear in mind that opening of markets cannot be one-sided. If developed countries continue to subsidise their farmers and restrict the access of farm products from the developing world, there can be no fair globalisation."

With regard to the initiatives by the Government in the sector, Mr Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, said the UPA Government had already taken a number of measures to ensure development of the sector. Starting with an exemption of income-tax for five years, he said "We in the Government realise that for long agriculture has concentrated on a supply side strategy which we need to change and to make it a demand driven one, so that our products find markets and thus remunerative prices be available to farmers".

Mr Sahai added that the Food Safety and Standards Bill is expected to receive Parliamentary approval in the winter session. The Bill on being enacted would subsume a large number of acts and orders that are currently being administered by various authorities.

Responding to some of the concerns expressed by Mr Sahai, Mr Bhattacharjee said the priority areas that needed attention were diversification of agricultural production, putting in place the infrastructure and a market mechanism, technological upgradation, including packaging and setting up of multi-purpose cold storages and cold chains.

He said West Bengal was serious in its intent to implement the recommendations of the National Horticulture Mission. It had set up five agri export zones and has targeted 10 food parks in the State. The State was also setting up multi-purpose cold chains at Kolkata and North Bengal airports.

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Opening of markets cannot be one-sided, says Bengal CM