ASSOCHAM session on linking Growth Drivers of Food Processing Industries

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By 1 2 1 News Reporter

Chandigarh, 24th June:-- Food processing industry has the potential and will lead to an increase in the farm gate prices which will enhance rural incomes, Punjab Governor and Administrator UT Chandigarh Shivraj V Patil said today during the ASSOCHAM National Conference on linking Growth Drivers of Food Processing Industries. "In India we have associations like ASSOCHAM, FICCI and CII which helps in bringing entrepreneur together to see that policies which are conducive for the development of industry, agriculture and other activities and also trying to see as to how produce can be sold in the market and be exported," he said.

He said that Punjab and Haryana were doing very well in agriculture sector while Himachal Pradesh was producing fruits on a very large scale. He said the question was as to how what is produced can be made available to the consumers at affordable and reasonable prize. "Unless we were able to stop the wastage we cannot achieve the desired results. The only thing which can help in this area is food processing, which can help in protecting what is produced," Patil said. The Governor said that there is unlimited scope in this area and there is no dearth of raw material which is needed for the food processing industry and consumers were also easily available. Appreciating the role of ASSOCHAM, Patil said that the ASSOCHAM has always been disseminating vital information and taking the cause of the members of trade and industry easy the conference would prove fruitful if this purpose is achieved. 
Governor said need of the hour is to find out the ways to check the problems being faced by food processing sector and to understand emerging demand trends in the food market. He said that he was hopeful that the deliberations in the conference would focus on mechanisms to promote and establish knowledge- based and technology driven enterprises, by harnessing the collaborative synergies of all the stakeholders and Northern states specially Punjab and Haryana will emerge as a preferable destination for the food. Patil also released a book "Study on Value Addition in Agricultural Products in India".