Promoting food processing

Focus should shift to micro- and middle-sized units

The national food processing policy draft brought out by the government for public comments, though good in parts, needs a review of some of its key tenets to ensure inclusive growth of this sector. Many of the policy prescriptions, especially those concerning subsidies, tax rebates and concessions in customs and excise duties, are, in fact, already in place. But what sets this policy apart is the attempt made to overcome some critical constraints that are holding this sector from growing to its full potential. These include ways to ease land acquisition and get around the labour laws. The need to