Food processing sectors gets a creamy layer of 1400 Cr
New Delhi, February 14: In order to achieve the goal of doubling the income of farmers by 2022, Rs. 1400 crore has been allocated in the budget 2018-19 and also a roadmap has been charted for arresting price volatility of TOP (Tomato, Onion and Potato).
On the initiative ‘Operation Greens’, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal said “the poor and the middle class have been bearing the brunt of price volatility of Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) for decades together. Under Operations Greens we shall be creating a sustainable roadmap to ensure that Tomato Onion Potato (TOP) is available in every nook and corner of the country round the year without any price volatility.” A sum of Rs. 500 crore has been earmarked for this purpose in the Budget 2018, the Minister said.
The Minister informed that the Government is looking at compressing the supply chains and creating appropriate climate infrastructure for natural preservation of Tomato Onion Potato (TOP) and promoting Farmers Producers Organizations, Agri Logistics Processing facilities, and professional management.
Badal informed that one of the most revolutionary initiatives announced in Budget 2018-19 to give impetus to the food processing sector is establishing Specialized Agro Processing Financial Institutions to unlock finance for establishing food processing industries. These institutions would help overcome the deterrents faced while installing food processing projects that are capital intensive and have a long gestation period, by ensuring timely, accessible and affordable credit to this sector, the Minister added.
The Minister also lauded the thrust provided for promoting agri-clusters and Mega Food Parks in the Budget to strengthen farmers. The initiatives taken by the Government are:
Promotion of cluster-based development of Agri commodities and regions in partnership with Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce and allied ministries;
100% income tax deduction from profit derived from activities such as post-harvest value addition to agriculture to FPOs having an annual turnover of Rs. 100 crore;
Setting up of state of art testing facilities in all the 42 Mega Food Parks to encourage export of agri-commodities realizing their full potential.
Talking about attracting foreign investments in the sector, Badal informed that the World Food India 2017, organized by the Ministry, attracted participation from 61 countries, 60 Global CEOs and more than 200 global companies. The event resulted in the signing of MOUs worth US $ 14 billion, out of which projects have already started grounding their investments in India, worth close to US $ 4 billion. The FDI has been progressively increasing in the sector at a fast pace due to the support is given by the Government, the Minister added.
Food processing sector constitutes around 8% and 10% of Gross Value Added (GVA) in manufacturing and agriculture sector in 2015-16. Value of processed food export has increased to USD 13.9 billion on 2016-17 which constitutes 11.2% of India’s total export. The Minister added that the Government has been able to bring a central focus to food processing industry in terms of its potential to increase farmer’s income, provide employment and reduce wastage.