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Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Bihar will play a pivotal role in positioning India as global food basket: Paswan
Patna, Maintaining that the vision of a 'viksit Bihar' is inseparable from 'viksit Bharat', Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Monday said the state's fertile land and entrepreneurial spirit will play a pivotal role in positioning India as a global food basket. The Union Minister of Food Processing Industries said this while inaugurating the two-day 'International Buyer Seller Meet ' here. This 'International Buyer Seller Meet' is not just a trade event, it is a turning point for rural prosperity, he said. Reflecting on Bihar's rich civilisation, Paswan highlighted its historic leadership in shaping the nation. "Being the land of Aryabhatta, Sita Mata, Chanakya, Lord Mahavira and Lord Buddha — Bihar has always shown the way. That same potential will now power the growth of food processing sector in the state. We envision Bihar's youth to become job creators, not job seekers. We will ensure every investor is fully facilitated by the government," said the union minister. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries in partnership with Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority , Trade Promotion Council of India , and Government of Bihar, is organising the meet. The event aims to bring together key stakeholders from food and allied sectors to promote trade, strengthen exports, and unlock Bihar's agri-food potential. Paswan stated that in the financial year 2024–25, the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries has sanctioned a record 10,270 loans worth ₹624.42 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises scheme to micro food processing units in Bihar—the highest for any state in the country. He said that this is not a mere coincidence, but the result of the government's focused push to translate the vision of viksit Bihar into ground-level impact. It reflects both the ministry's resolve to strengthen rural enterprise and the resounding trust that Bihar's micro-entrepreneurs have placed in the policies of the government, Paswan added. Drawing a parallel with the ancient glory of Nalanda, where scholars from across the world once came in pursuit of knowledge, he remarked that the newly announced National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management in Bihar will carry forward that legacy. "From being the land of wisdom to becoming a hub of innovation in food, Bihar is once again ready to lead," he said. The Union minister also launched a strategic report titled "Strategies to Boost India's Makhana Exports", underscoring Bihar's leadership in this unique GI-tagged product. Speaking on the occasion, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha highlighted the role of the food processing industry in enhancing farmers income. He also informed the gathering about the launch of the Bihar Krishi App, a dedicated platform to provide farmers with essential support and information. The DyCM invited investors to positively consider the state as a promising and future-ready investment destination. Bihar Industries Minister Nitish Mishra said, "Bihar has the potential to become the growth engine of East India". He mentioned the presence of a Government of India-approved Mega Food Park at Muzaffarpur and encouraged investors to leverage Bihar's industrial infrastructure. He mentioned the state's investor-ready ecosystem and the proactive allotment of land within seven days through the Single Window Clearance System. Significantly, 12 companies announced procurement commitments for rice, pulses, spices, fruits, vegetables, and makhana from Bihar, marking a breakthrough in long-term sourcing partnerships with countries. Seventy international buyers representing 20 countries, including six global retail chains, alongside 50 domestic and 20 institutional buyers, are attending the meet. The meet witnessed interest from global players like LuLu Group , SARTAJ , Datar & Sons and Global Foods Trading , who are exploring large-scale procurement of rice, spices, makhana, and fruits from Bihar. Companies such as Royal Golden Trading and UVR Natural Foods have also announced concrete sourcing plans, reaffirming Bihar's emergence as a trusted sourcing hub under the proactive efforts of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, said the statement issued by the state Industries department.
India Gazette
09-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Union Minister Chirag Paswan holds meeting with officials to discuss food security
New Delhi [India], May 9 (ANI): Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan on Friday held a review meeting with senior ministry officials to discuss the availability of food items in the country. This meeting aimed to ensure uninterrupted food supply nationwide and address public concerns about food availability. The meeting reviewed the current stock position of food grains, with Minister Paswan emphasising the importance of maintaining sufficient reserves. The government is focused on ensuring food security and addressing misinformation about food grain stocks. Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi assured that the country has sufficient food grain reserves exceeding necessary standards. Joshi urged people not to believe misleading propaganda about the food supply. Additionally, he warned against hoarding or stockpiling food items, stating that anyone found engaging in such practices will face prosecution under the relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act. In a post on X, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, 'Don't believe in propaganda messages regarding food stocks in the country. We have ample food stocks, far exceeding required norms. DON'T PAY HEED TO SUCH MESSAGES. Traders, wholesalers, retailers or business entities which engage in trading of Essential Commodities are directed to cooperate with Law Enforcement agencies. Any person indulging in hoarding or stockpiling shall be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act.' The government is closely monitoring food stocks to prevent shortages and ensure availability of essential items. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan confirmed that food grain stocks are ample, and there is no shortage of essential items. 'As the agriculture department, our responsibility is to ensure food security. Our agricultural reserves are full. Whether wheat, rice or other grains, we have sufficient quantities. The soldiers are posted on the border, and the scientists are with the farmers in the is our responsibility to work with the farmers in the fields and increase production...,' said Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a press conference in Delhi today. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. (ANI)
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India can emerge as global food basket with right push: Food processing minister Chirag Paswan
New Delhi: Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan , on Friday said India has the potential to become the ' global food basket ' while moving towards becoming Viksit Bharat , provided the sector receives the right policy support and investment. Speaking at a forum presented by Instamart , Paswan emphasized that the country's food processing potential remains largely untapped despite India's strong agricultural base. "We are not even 10% there yet. But if we navigate correctly, food processing can drive India's growth story and meet global hunger needs too," he said. Highlighting the government's roadmap, he emphasized the need to build stronger rural and tier-2 infrastructure, bring private players into the fold, and strengthen backward linkages with farmers. "Private sector participation is crucial. Through various schemes, we are encouraging micro, small, medium, and large enterprises alike," he added. Paswan underlined the role of technology, e-commerce platforms, and quick commerce in supporting the processed food sector, particularly in ensuring safer food and expanding market access. "Young entrepreneurs, especially from villages, are being hand-held through our micro-enterprise schemes. Many of them are using digital platforms to promote and sell their products," he noted, adding that such initiatives align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making youth job creators rather than job seekers. He also announced the expansion of food technology institutes to skill and nurture young entrepreneurs. "A third Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (NIFTEM) is coming up in Bihar. These institutions will fuel the next wave of innovation in food tech," Paswan shared. Paswan added that globally, Indian tastes are gaining popularity, citing personal experiences where foreign nationals often outnumber Indians at Indian restaurants abroad. "Indian delicacies have the potential to dominate global cuisine — it's now up to us to channelize this opportunity effectively," he said.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt says food processing schemes reduced post-harvest losses in last 5 yrs
The government is working to establish an ecosystem to boost food processing through various schemes and by encouraging startups, though Paswan noted that "it is still not enough as potential is huge." The government is actively promoting food processing to cut post-harvest losses and boost farmers' income, according to Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan at the SUFALAM event. He emphasized the sector's crucial role in India becoming a developed nation by 2047 and its potential to become a global food basket. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: The government on Friday said that various schemes to promote food processing have helped reduce post-harvest losses in fruits and vegetables over the last five years while emphasising the need to further develop the sector to boost farmers' income and meet growing food demand. Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan , speaking at the SUFALAM event organised by NIFTEM-Kundli in Haryana, said the food processing sector has a crucial role in achieving India's goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047."So far, we have not been able to tap and explore the sector fully. In terms of exports and processing, we are nowhere at present although there is endless scope to develop further," Paswan minister added that India could emerge as a "global food basket" given the sector's huge government is working to establish an ecosystem to boost food processing through various schemes and by encouraging startups, though Paswan noted that "it is still not enough as potential is huge."Food Processing Industries Secretary Subrata Gupta said the ministry was "relentlessly pursuing projects" to support the creation of cold chains and other food processing infrastructure to reduce food wastage "In fact, over the last five years, there has been a decline of food wastage because of lack of processing," he highlighted the challenge of feeding a growing global population, expected to increase by 2 billion from the current 8 billion. He noted that 77 per cent of agricultural land is used to grow food for animals, which provides only 18 per cent of calories and 37 per cent of proteins consumed by secretary emphasised the need for alternative protein sources, mentioning that NIFTEM has been sponsoring research in frontier areas of processing, including cultured meat and plant-based meat technologies.
