Make policy changes for food processing: Sahai

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s food processing sector will grow faster if the State makes some policy changes, said the Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Mr Subodh Kant Sahai.

Speaking at a press conference in the city today, he said Kerala must develop a separate industrial policy for the food processing sector. Similarly, the State must ensure that VAT does not harm the food processing sector and that taxes on the food processing sector are in the 0-4 per cent bracket.

Kerala also needs to encourage contract farming or at least cooperative farming, the Minister said. It also must look at making amendments in the Agricultural Produce Marketing Act to facilitate market-driven farming, he added.

These measures will help Kerala’s food processing sector become an engine of further economic development, Mr Sahai said.

Kerala should also look at setting up an agency to develop marketing strategies for the State’s food processing sector, he said.

The State, which already has four food parks, should look at setting up a mega food park in Wayanad and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries will give aid of Rs 50 crore for this project, he added.

The State Industries Minister, Mr Elamaram Kareem, who was also present at the press conference, said the State Government would set up a mega food park at Kalpetta in Wayanad. Some 300 acres of land is being acquired for this, he added.

He assured Mr Sahai that the Industries Department would seriously consider the proposal to establish a separate agency to provide marketing support to Kerala’s food processing sector.