At last the new Food Processing Minister at the Center seems to be thinking about the new"portfolio" thrust on him if the statement by a junior official of the Ministry is to be believed. Ever since there was the change in the government set up a few months ago, putting the MFPI in charge of the Agriculture Minister, all policy pronouncements were being made by the junior minister, raising some questions regarding the commitment of the cabinet minister to the subject of food processing. Why an an important pronouncement like launching of a National Mission on Food Processing Industry was not announced by the senior minister may remain a mystery. What is intriguing is the casual nature of the announcement in an insignificant seminar raising serious doubts about the sincerity of the effort to give a boost to the fortunes of food industry in the country.
"'On April 21 this year, at a meeting with the full Planning Commission, Minister for Food Processing Industries Sharad Pawar called for a National Food Processing Industry Mission so that the industry can achieve a growth rate of around of 25 percent by the end of the 12th Plan period from around 14 percent now,' U. Venkateswarlu, joint secretary in the ministry, told a seminar here. Venkateswarlu also urged representatives of the packaging, food processing and pharmaceutical industries to think of ways to manage post-use plastic and other non-biodegradable packaging materials in an environment-friendly way. 'There is nothing bad (about plastic or other non-biodegradable materials), it is bad only if it is not managed,' he said. 'If suppose the local milk booth offers consumers a small sum for returning used packets, the problem can be managed much better,' he pointed out. Referring to a public interest litigation now in the Supreme Court seeking a complete ban on plastics, the official said: 'Once the Supreme Court gives an order, we will all have to comply with it and there will be nothing that the ministry will be able to do to help the processing industry.' However, if the industry players on their own put in place systems for collecting and recycling non-biodegradable packaging materials, then there could be case for persuading the apex court not to order a complete ban and instead call for some regulatory norms, he added".
It is amusing to read about the "treatise" by this bureaucrat on plastics recycling, that too at a conference of plastic experts! Every one knows recycling of plastics is a subject that is posing enormous technical and logistical challenges confronting all the countries and no satisfactory solution has yet emerged that is practical and economical. It is rather comical for scientific organizations to "invite" bureaucrats and politicians, most of them subject illiterates for inauguration of scientific events, special lectures, key not address, etc knowing pretty well that they themselves have to prepare the "speech" to be read by the invited "guest"! Regarding the "Mission" mentioned above what is trying to be achieved by spending precious public money is not clear and if the experience of the past missions is any indication, nothing significant is likely to be achieved. Food industry must unequivocally tell the government that they do not need any "help" from it and will be grateful if there is no unwanted intervention causing unnecessary disruption to the development of the industry!
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment