Recent Development in Food Processing

In the year 2019, India exported agricultural and processed food of value exceeding ₹1.28 lakh crore. During the pandemic, the food processing industry was one of the few sectors that did not record negative growth.

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1 Government Initiatives:

1.1 PM Kisan Sampada Yojana

1.2 Creation of Mega Foods

1.3 Operation Green

1.4 PM Formalization of Micro Food processing Enterprises

1.4.1 Other development that has been adopted by the industries includes-

1.4.2 Provisions regarding Food adulteration:

1.5 Related

Government Initiatives:

PM Kisan Sampada Yojana

This scheme is aimed at promoting entrepreneurs in setting up food processing units, closer to the agricultural areas. It focuses on the development of cold storages facilities, warehouse facilities etc. It aims to benefit investors, entrepreneurs, farmers, farmer organisations, and agricultural cooperatives.

Creation of Mega Foods

 A mega food park provides for storage, processing. Under the Scheme, the Government of India provides for financial assistance up to Rs. 50.00 Crore per Mega Food Park project. It has services as tetra-packaging, food testing laboratories, drying chambers for spices and agricultural produce, cold storage, warehousing, packaging and printing facilities.

Operation Green

Operation green was announce to promote integrated value chain development for crops as tomato, potato, onion. Post-harvest processing facilities will be eligible for a grant in aid of up to 50% of the project cost.

PM Formalization of Micro Food processing Enterprises

The scheme is aim at helping small micro-units engage in the food processing industry. As businesses like chilli drying, spice packaging, pickle, and papad making engage directly with farmers. It basically recognises the role of such small micro-units.

Other development that has been adopted by the industries includes-

1. Use of non-thermal processing methods as high-pressure processing, pulsed electric field processing for processing fruits and vegetables.
2. Use osmotic dehydration, is use to reduce the content of water in the fruits
3. Freeze concentration and freeze-drying of foods, this method is use to specify for heat sensitive food like fruit juices, etc.
4. Use Extrusion cookers, it is use to prepare snack food.
5. The use of the microwave for drying, basically this is use in order to dry the products.

Provisions regarding Food adulteration:

The Madhya Pradesh government has planned to bring in the provision for life imprisonment with regard to food and drug adulteration. The current punishment for the same is imprisonment of up to three years and the government of the state has planned to bring amendment to it. The Penal Laws (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill 2020, will be soon introduce in the state Assembly.