Food Processing in Uttar Pradesh to Get Doubled in Next One Year

Three days India Food Expo -2019 started at Indian Industries Association (IIA) Grounds, Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, wherein Food Processing Machinery, Agro & Food Processing Technologies, Agri& Food Processing Products developed by Research Institutions, Food Product testing facilities, Innovative Food Products, Consumer Food Products & Food Processing Industries Policies & Schemes are on display. This exhibition is useful for all sections of the society including Startups & prospective entrepreneurs, existing entrepreneurs, Professionals& Academicians, Students & the general public.

India Food Expo-2019 is inaugurated by Mr. Sudhir Garg, Principal Secretary Horticulture & Food Processing, Govt. of U.P. today morning. In his inaugural address, Mr. Garg said that though U.P. is a leading State in Agriculture Produce yet the level of Food Processing is low at 4%.  If we compare the level of Food Processing in the world, it is as high as 90% in Tiwan. We have to take a resolve to increase the Food Processing level to 8% in the next one year for which the Indian Industries Association can play an important role. Mr. Sudhir Garg desired that IIA may promote Anchor Entrepreneurs, who in association with the Farmers should setup Micro Food Processing Units in the Villages. It is said that per capita income in U.P. compared to other States is low because of the large population but in my opinion, if the population is large then the number of workable hands are also large. We have to provide work to these hands. For doing so, setting up of Micro Food Processing Units in Villages is a good option. Such Micro Units if promoted involving farmers will be very successful. If Food Processing reaches every home in the villages, the level of Food Processing will certainly increase.

On contract Farming Mr. Garg said that contract Farming is not an issue but contract enforcement is a problem. For solving this problem, Govt. of U.P. is working on a solution for protecting the interests of the farmers as well as that of the purchasers. As soon as this solution is worked out contract farming will start in U.P. also.

Mr. Sudhir Garg expected IIA to point out the shortcomings of the Govt. in right prospective so that the policies for Food Processing Industries are modified and drafted accordingly. He further said that for release of the funds to the entrepreneurs paper formalities have been done away with in the Department for which a Govt. order has been issued recently.

Speaking on the inaugural function, National President IIA Shri Sunil Vaish said that IIA launched India Food Expo in 2004 and organized it every year till 2008. This year IIA decided to re-launch the India Food Expo keeping in view the policies & efforts of the State & the Central Govt. for promoting Food Processing Industries. He expressed hope that every section of the society will visit this expo & take advantage of it. In times to come IIA will be organizing India Food Expo at a large scale and will make it one of the premier Food Expo in the Country. In addition to it IIA will sign MOU’s with the Apex Research Institutions related to Agro & Food Processing in the Country for transfer of technologies and products invented to the Industry.

Dr. S.B. Shrma, Joint Director Horticulture & Food Processing Govt. of U.P. in his address said that Govt. of U.P. has come out with Food Processing Policy 2017 which is the best compared to any other state in India. Under this policy, Micro &Small Food Processing Units can avail assistance of upto 2.5 crores in 5 years. In Uttar Pradesh three Mega Food Parks are also being setup out of which the work on two Mega Food Park have already started. Upto 10% Financial support will be available for Food Processing Units to be setup in these Food Parks. Shri Sharma further said that an ambitious  GramSampadaYojana will be implemented in the year 2019-20. The Department of Horticulture & Food Processing is running extensive training programmes in Food Processing Sector through 400 Panchayat in the State said Mr. Sharma.

Food Processing Industry Committee Chairman of IIA Shri Rajiv Sood said that after a long time in the past few years industrial environment in the State of U.P. as well as allover India has been improving. Encouraged by this Industrial environment, Indian Industries Association decided to organsied India Food Expo-2019 which had a grant beginning today.

Comparing of the Inaugural Function was done by ShriManmohanAgarwal General Secretary IIA & the Vote of thanks was delivered by Shri S.B. Jakhotia Treasure IIA.