Sahai calls for food technology revolution in the country

New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) Minister for food Processing, Subodh Kant Sahai has stressed the need for Food Technology Revolution in the country, pointing out that big industrial houses are now coming to invest in this sector.

Addressing an interactive meeting on 'Unleashing the potential of Food Processing Industry in West Bengal' Organised by Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Kolkata yesterday evening, Mr Sahai informed that a new bill 'Food Authority of India' is coming in September-October 2007.

The Minister pointed out that the food processing sector is a totally tax free and Subsidised sector and the need of the hour for this sector is investment and more investment. Sixty per cent of the total population of India is dependent on Agriculture.

However, agriculture is not an attractive field, for investment.

Mr Sahai stressed on the need of cluster wise, demand wise, organised and Cooperative farming.

He informed that 30 New Mega Food Parks are to be built soon.

These parks will have cold storage facilities, logistics and distribution centers. They will be linked to the markets to get better value for farmers.

The Union Cabinet has already cleared this proposal and the food-processing Ministry will give Rs 50 crore as grant for this.

Mr Sahai stressed the need of demand driven farming which gives farmers the power to bargain.

Mr Sahai also informed that in India, there are 15 climatic zones, and 60 per cent of the world's population is Indian.

In the backdrop of globalisation, retail marketing of processed food and food products are coming and generating demands.

The Minister praised the initiatives taken by the state government in the sector by creating a separate ministry on this.

UNI