Giving a clarion call for pioneering revolution in food processing sector in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today sought the support of Union Food Processing Ministry for formulating a ‘Comprehensive Action Plan’ to achieve this goal. nteracting with a high level team of Union Food Processing, which called on him, at Punjab Bhawan this morning, the Chief Minister said that the Ministry along with the state government should formulate this ambitious plan within a month, so that big push could be given to the food processing sector in the state. He said that the hard working and resilient farmers’ of the state have led the country in Green, White and Blue revolutions and now it was the high time that their indomitable spirit of entrepreneurship was channelized in Food processing sector.
Badal said that there was a huge potential of Food processing sector in the state, which could be duly utilized for changing the fortunes of Punjabi farmers. The Chief Minister said that with their sheer hard work the Punjabi farmers have made the state a leader in food grains, milk and fish production. However, he said that the production of these have reached a point of saturation due to which the farmers of the state were on cross roads. Mr. Badal said that in such a scenario processing of food grains, meat, fish, milk, fruits, vegetables and other could do wonders in supplementing the income of farmers. “I firmly believe that Food Processing is the ‘panacea of all ills’ faced by the farmers” he added.
The Chief Minister asked the representatives of the Union Food Processing Ministry to open demonstration cum training centers across the state to encourage the farmers for food processing. He said that these state-of-the art centers equipped with ultramodern technology to exhibit the techniques, ways and finished products of food processing would act as a catalyst make Food Processing a mass movement in the state. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that training imparted in these centers would be very helpful to the farmers for this cause. The Chief Minister also gave nod for back to back tie up between Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) for introduction of several courses in Food Processing. Mr. Badal also asked NIFTEM to explore the feasibility of setting up a sub centre in the state to give fillip to Food Processing industry. He also asked NIFTEM to become technical knowledge partners of the state for setting up dedicated training centers for Milk, Fruits & Vegetable, Honey, Fish and Meat processing.
The Chief Minister also assured fulsome support and cooperation to Union Ministry of Food Processing and NIFTEM to initiate outreach training program for the farmers at grass root level so as to acquaint them in Food processing practices. It was decided in the meeting that 200 such programs would be held across the state from February to November at a cost of Rs 18 crore to impart highly skilled training to farmers. Earlier in their presentation before the Chief Minister Vice Chancellor of NIFTEM Dr. Ajit Kumar and Additional Secretary Union Food Processing Ministry Mr. JP Meena apprised the Chief Minister that there was a tremendous scope of Food Processing Industry in the state. They informed Mr. Badal that out of total 38 Food Parks in the country three were in Punjab and this number could be enhanced with active support of state government.
Prominent amongst other present in the meeting included Punjab Food Processing Minister Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Advisor Animal Husbandry Dr BK Uppal, Additional Chief Secretaries Mr. Suresh Kumar and Mr. Mandeep Singh Sandhu, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Secretary Food Processing Mr. Raj Kanwal Chaudhary, Managing Director Punjab Agro Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu, Managing Director Markfed Gurkirat Kirpal and Director Dairy Mr. Inderjeet Singh.