In a bid to help enhance farmers' income and provide processed food products to consumers at affordable rates, the government is considering to frame a comprehensive policy for the food sector. Stressing on the need to further strengthen the linkage of the farms with the market and industry, Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said “I think there should be a one comprehensive food policy, which encompasses policies for agriculture, distribution of food and food processing, that is the need of the hour and we are thinking on those lines”.
In order to help the farmers to raise their income levels, Badal emphasized upon the need to make agriculture a more profitable profession. She said the government plans to establish a task force to prepare a vision for the food processing sector by 2020. It is an ongoing process, the government wants to create such environment where farmers income level rises, promotes processing and at the same time, food products for consumers are available at affordable prices.
Badal further highlighted that government is taking steps to ease product approval system of food regulator FSSAI and working on a new mechanism where manufacturers may not need approval for their products if ingredients are cleared.