Boost for cluster-specific food sector

NEW DELHI: The Centre, on Friday, announced a mega Rs10,000-crore package for cluster-specific food sectors like citrus fruits, bamboo shoots, turmeric and organic products aimed at benefitting the North East among others.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during announcement of the third installment of packages, said the Centre would invest Rs 10,000 crore to promote healthy food, organic and other products. This is linked to well-being by forming clusters of producers in states where certain items are unique to them or they have a natural advantage in growing them.
For example, turmeric in Meghalaya and Telangana, bamboo shoot in the North East, kesar and saffron in Jammu and Kashmir and makhana in Bihar. She also announced a new thrust on the widespread organic farming in North East and its citrus fruits.
Sitharaman’s announcement, as part of the Centre’s package of Rs 20 lakh crore amid the coronavirus lockdown, follows a “cluster-based plan” that has parallels to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “vocal for local” approach towards self-sufficiency.
“This cluster-based approach is one of the ways to make local value-added products reach global markets,” she said, adding that the final products can be packaged in a world-class manner and marketed.
Kashmir would aim at kesar and saffron cluster and Karnataka can have ragi and coarse grai, which is considered a healthy alternative to gluten-rich wheat and rice, Sitharaman said.  North East will have bamboo shoots and organic fruit.
Telangana can have turmeric — we are only suggesting this because turmeric latte is a big thing outside these days. Incidentally, Meghalaya also produces top-quality turmeric and today’s package will help the farmers.
“So the cluster-based approach is going to focus on those organic or herbal-based or nutritional and wellness-related food items in which India has a great strength,” the finance minister said.
India already has 361 products with geographical indication or GI tags, a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.