8.54 ndian onom
institute will offer high quality educational, job creation. To promote industrial growth along
research and management programme specific to with the objective of inclusive growth the food
the food industry, provide referral advise on food processing sector will get higher attention from
standards, disseminate knowledge on the food the government.
sector and provide business incubation facility. It
is situated (2006) at Kundli, Sonipat (Haryana). outlook for the future
nAtionAl mission on fooD Processing (nmfP) So that the FPI expands as per the expectations
emphasis is needed on the following fronts:
India enjoys a ‘competitive advantage’ in food
processing sector given its huge production (i) Given the need for wastage reduction,
base of a number of agricultural, dairy, fishing value addition and the high employment
and horticultural items. To ensure that this potential of the sector, there is a need to
sector gets the stimulus it deserves, the MoFPI substantially step up the allocations given
has been implementing a number of schemes the importance of the sector in terms of
for infrastructure development, technology its contribution to the economy.
upgradation and modernisation, human resources
(ii) There is also a need for greater involvement
development and R&D in this sector. In the
of state governments for better outreach,
context of the 12th Plan, it is felt that there is a need
to decentralise the implementation of schemes supervision and monitoring (keeping this
through involvement of the states/UTs for better in view, government has already launched
outreach, supervision, monitoring and ensuring centrally sponsored National Mission on
job creation. Accordingly, National Mission Food Processing).
on Food Processing (NMFP) was launched as a (iii) There is a need for greater emphasis
centrally sponsored scheme in 2012. The NMFP on creation of infrastructure with full
contemplates establishment of a National Mission participation of state governments and
as well as corresponding Missions at the state and
private sector. The main infrastructure
district levels.
schemes for setting up food parks and
chAllenges cold chains are at present ‘closed ended’.
This should be ‘open ended’ permitting
The most important challenges among others in
the Ministry to fund all the viable
the sector include avoidance of the significant
‘wastage’ at every level and in value addition. projects proposals received under these
High food inflation, high post-harvest wastage schemes rather than limiting the number
particularly in fruits and vegetables, low level of of projects.
processing, etc., are the main challenges in the (iv) The credit dimension of the sector is also
food processing sector. Addressing these core a vital issue.
concerns by reducing wastage of food, increasing With the idea of ‘Team India’ under the
shelf life and enhancing value of agricultural
NITI Aayog, it is believed that a new synergy will
produce are some of the objectives of the food
processing industry. In terms of employment, the come to the food processing industry. The nature
contribution of the sector is significant. Presently, of industry requires active participation from not
the total number of persons employed in the food only the concerned states, but the loacal bodies,
processing sector is about 17 lakh. The National too. Experts believe that the emerging emphasis
Manufacturing Policy, 2011 seeks to give special by the government on the issue of ‘ease of doing
attention to food processing industries to ensure business’ will be of great help to the sector.