Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said the government's investor friendly policies were taking the India's food sector to new heights. Modi stressed that India's food diversity is a dividend for global investors and said food security is one of the key challenges being faced by the world in the 21st Century.
The prime minister was inaugurating the second edition of ‘World Food India 2023’ in New Delhi. He highlighted that this is a golden opportunity for start-ups and companies in the food sector and India has achieved remarkable growth in every sector of the food processing industry. The PM noted that there has been a significant increase in the demand for packaged food and this is creating opportunities for farmers, start-ups and entrepreneurs.
The Prime Minister said that women in India have the natural ability to lead the food processing industry and added that women entrepreneurs and Self-Help Groups are being promoted at every level to aid women in the sector. Modi said country's sustainable food culture has evolved over thousands of years and India's ancestors linked food habits to Ayurveda. He said the entire world will gain from India's wealth of food knowledge.
The PM highlighted that International Millets Year is being celebrated this year and India has given millets the status of 'Shree Anna'. He pointed out that millets are a key component of India's 'superfood bucket' and soon, these will reach all corners of the world. The Prime Minister also stressed that mitigating food wastage is a significant endeavour in realising the objective of sustainable lifestyle and said products should be designed to minimize wastage.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister disbursed Seed Capital Assistance for over one lakh Self Help Groups (SHG)members. This support will help SHGs to improve packaging and quality manufacturing and gain better price realisation in the market.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Food Street, as part of World Food India 2023. It features regional cuisines and royal culinary heritage where over 200 chefs will participate and present traditional Indian cuisine.