(a) whether the lack of proper storage facilities, movement
and transport bottleneck, outdated food laws and
inappropriate taxing system are seriously impeding the
growth of the Food Processing Industries (FPIs) in the
country;
(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereon; and
(c) the export performance of the FPIs during the last
three years?
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI N.T. SHANMUGAM)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok
Sabha Starred Question No. 84 for answer on 25th November,
2002, regarding storage facilities.
While multiplicity of food laws, problems in the
taxation regime and infrastructure bottlenecks are
recognized as areas requiring attention, studies also
point out that food processing industries as a whole grew
at a rate (5.8% per annum) higher than the GDP growth
rate (5.7%) in the country during the 9th Plan Period.
To address the problems faced by the industry in
multiplicity of laws, regulatory authorities and
standards, Government have constituted a Group of
Ministers to recommend an Integrated Food Law,
independent regulators and comprehensive amendments to
existing legislation for facilitating fast pace growth of
food processing industries. A number of plan schemes and
interventions for infrastructure development including
silo storage, cold storage, reefer vans, agri-export
zones and food parks have been devised to facilitate food
processing industries. The Central Government brought
down excise duty on processed fruit and vegetables to
zero w.e.f. the Budget year 2001-02.
The export performance of food processing industries
during the last three years is indicated below:-
(Rs. Crores)
Item 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002
Processed Fruits & 993.64 1345.54 1100.57 Vegetables Meat & Meat Products 905.08 1637.16 1500.93 Marine Products 5116.60 6443.80 5957.00 Other Processed Foods 1494.49 1798.03 1780.07
Total 8509.81 11224.53 10338.57