NEW DELHI: India, a surplus food producing country, needs to fix missing links in the farm-to-fork value chain and also reduce food wastage, President Ram Nath Kovind said Thursday.
Speaking at the platinum jubilee of All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA) here, Kovind said there is a “substantial” difference in what the farmers get for their produce and what the consumers pay and emphasised on the need to reduce this difference.
The President also stressed on reducing food wastage, promote use of bio-degradable packaging and manufacturing of processed food products which are compatible with modern health concerns.
“India is not short of food today. When it comes to many agriculture commodities and processed food, we have a surplus. We command a growing slice of a global market. Now is the moment we scale up our ambition for wider economic benefit, most so for prospects of farmers,” the President said. Expressing concern over food wastage, the President said, it is a global problem as there is huge wastage not only in farm fields but also in the food processing industry. Quoting a UN report, he said USD 1.2 trillion worth of food is simply thrown away every year and it amounts to half of India’s GDP. (PTI)
