SHILLONG, APR 10: Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan on Friday emphasized the critical role of food processing in reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing value addition in agri produce.
Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee followed by the NIFTEM Council Meeting at Courtyard by Marriott, Shillong, Paswan highlighted the need to address existing challenges in the sector, including infrastructure gaps, access to finance, and technological constraints.
The minister also underscored the importance of inter-ministerial coordination to facilitate ease of doing business, and praised the government’s initiatives on rationalisation of GST, streamlining of food safety regulations, and convergence of efforts across departments.
The meetings were held in the presence of senior officers of the ministry including Sh. Avinash Joshi, Secretary, MoFPI, and Sh Devesh Deval, Joint Secretary, MoFPI, along with Members of Parliament and other stakeholders.
During the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting, a comprehensive review of the food processing sector was undertaken, including ongoing reforms and policy initiatives of the Ministry.
A detailed presentation was made on the reforms implemented and proposed by MoFPI, followed by interventions and suggestions from Members of the Committee on strengthening the sector and improving its outreach and impact.
The NIFTEM Council meeting deliberated on key institutional and policy matters relating to capacity building, research, and strengthening of the food processing ecosystem in the country.
Members discussed ways to align institutional frameworks with industry requirements and emerging opportunities in the sector.
