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Rational food law soon, says Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD April. 16. The Union Minister of State for Food Processing, N.T. Shanmugam, said today that the Centre would evolve a simple and rational food law that would allow for speedy decision-making and promote self compliance by the food processing industry.

Inaugurating a seminar on "Food processing industry, Focus Andhra Pradesh: Vision 2020 Action Agenda'', organised by the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI), he said a lot of progress had been made by the Group of union Ministers (GoM), assigned to study the food laws — a long pending demand by the food processing industry.

The Minister released a report, "Vision 2020: A road map for the dairy, poultry, fisheries and horticulture sectors'', prepared by the National Institute for Agriculture Extension and Management (MANAGE).

The Centre was also for simplifying the procedures for financial assistance and rationalising the tax structure and the issue had been taken up with the Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh.

The Agriculture Minister of Andhra Pradesh, V. Sobhanadreeswara Rao, emphasised on value addition of agriculture through food processing. Pratibha Karan, secretary, food processing industries, said the industry had the largest employment potential per unit of investment.

R. K. Somany, president of Assocham, spoke of the need for cutting down the high rate of post-harvest losses accounting for 25 to 30 per cent, by creating cold chain facility.

He also suggested contract farming, the best bet for ensuring quality from raw material to the finished product. Gokul Patnaik, former president of the All India Food Processors Association, suggested creation of a seamless supply chain from farm to the finished product. Omprakash Tibrewala, president of Fapcci, welcomed the gathering and S.S.R. Koteswara Rao, senior vice-president, proposed a vote of thanks.

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