To stimulate the growth of the food processing sector and minimise waste, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry has sought policy interventions. The chamber wants the agri supply chain that is ‘clogged’ by intermediaries, including farm processors, distributors and retailers, to be streamlined.
“Even as the Government pins its hopes on a good rabi crop and a good monsoon next year to contain food price inflation, the huge wastage of fruits and vegetables estimated at Rs. 30,000 crore annually, due to a highly fragmented supply chain and cold chain infrastructure, stares it in the face,” it said in a release here. Suggesting a 16-point package the federation sought steps “that made it easier for corporates to enter into contract farming, agri-product distribution, post-harvest management, warehousing and development of cold chains. The need of the hour is sustained development in agriculture and large investments in technology, infrastructural development,” it said.
