Food show concludes, to be an annual event
SHILLONG: Union minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday that food processing “will be a big industry” that can push the economy of the region.
Speaking on the sidelines of the three-day North East Food Show at Polo Grounds, Rijiju said the industry will also create employment for the youth.
The biggest food show ever in the region concluded on Friday. Around 250 exhibitors and over 4,100 entrepreneurs participated in the event.
Lauding the state government for organising it, the minister of state for Youth Affairs and Sports said events like this are important for the overall growth of the region.
“Food is the best way to promote a region, and the North East has different varieties of very nice food… Food is a passion and everybody loves to eat good food and North East has amazing food that is organic and healthy,” he added.
Pointing out that the growing food business is already providing sustainable career options, Rijiju stressed the need for quality to boost economy in the North East.
Organic farming
Minister of State for Food Processing Rameshwar Teli said the region is known for organic farming, “which must be showcased and emulated in other parts of the country.”
He informed that Mega Food Parks have been sanctioned for all the northeastern states except Meghalaya and Sikkim. But he assured that the state too will get a similar park and that his ministry will give all support to the food processing industry.
Chief Minister of Tripura Biplab Deb in his speech called for concerted and integrated efforts by all the eight states for a perceptible change.
Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu said every developing nation or state has to focus on its primary sector and hoped that the North East Food Show will be a changing factor for the entire region.
Policy on wine making
In his remarks, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma informed that different hotels have expressed interest in procuring vegan meat like jackfruit. He said the response for homemade wine has been great and the government will come up with a policy to regulate wine making so that both the farmers and entrepreneurs can benefit.
The food show will be an annual calendar event and the second edition will be held from November 26-28 next year.
B S Pant, Minister Tourism, Civil Aviation, Commerce & Industry, Sikkim said that the North East Food Show is an opportunity to share knowledge and technical knowhow which can benefit the entire north eastern region.
Giving a summary of the 1st North East Food Show, Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Dr P Shakil Ahammed, said that the three- day food show had sector wise sessions specifically road marked for North East.
He said the overall idea that has come out from the sessions is that for the North East the focus should be on niche, unique, high value, low volume farming and products.
He said the sessions and discussions have showed the avenues and opportunities that every stakeholder from industries, supply and value chain, policy makers and academicians can come together and work for a common cause which can make North East a rising area and corridor of success for the country.
Various signing of MoUs and the release North East Gastronomic Handbook was also held during the occasion.
The chief minister also felicitated the Trade Counselors and Ambassadors during the function.