The Hindu Business Line : Global action plan in food processing sector gets approval

New Delhi June 21 The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its in-principle approval to an action plan for the food-processing sector that aims to help the industry double its share in global food trade by 2015.

The action plan — Integrated Strategy for Promotion of Agri-business, Vision, Strategy and Action Plan for Food Processing Sector — includes establishment of mega food parks, modernisation of abattoirs, upgrading quality of street foods, detailed mapping of food clusters, and strengthening backward and forward linkages.

Vision 2015

This would help realise the Vision 2015 set by the Government by trebling the size of the processed food sector, enhancing farmer income, generating jobs and providing choice to consumers at affordable prices, an official note released after the meeting said. Vision 2015 foresees increasing the level of processing of perishable items from 6 per cent to 20 per cent, value addition from 20 per cent to 35 per cent, and share in global food trade from about 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent.

Tax structure

The action plan includes adopting uniform and rationalised tax structure for the industry as well as strengthening and restructuring the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

Developing infrastructure for an organised food retail market, enhancing capacity building in R&D and quality control labs, and clusterisation of farming in the shape of contract farming are some of the other action points to be adopted by the food processing sector.

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