Govt to soon launch scheme to promote micro-food processing units: Badal

The government will soon launch 'Gram Samriddhi Yojana' under which small farmers will be facilitated to create up to 70,0000 micro-food processing units in the country with a capital less than Rs 10 lakh for each unit, newly appointed Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said after taking charge on Tuesday.

The focus will also be on creating jobs in the sector, setting up a non-banking finance company (NBFC) to fund food processing units, push for National Food Processing policy and organising World Food India event on a much larger scale, Badal, who represents Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) -- a key NDA ally -- in the government, said.

Outlining the priority areas of her ministry, Badal said, "The ministry was working on 'Gram Samriddhi Yojana' with the World Bank, which is going to be launched soon."
With regard to jobs, the minister said: "For the next five years, employment generation is going to be my focus, especially in rural areas, so that children of farmers do not have to look for employment elsewhere. Farmers should turn into job creators from being job seekers."