Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries has appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to provide tax exemption to food processing units in the state. He said that the matter has already been discussed with M Karunanidhi, Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu.

Further voicing concern over huge post-harvest food wastage worth Rs 50,000 crore in the country, the minister suggested various state governments to join hands with the Centre in its efforts for promoting the sector.

The value of wastage had come down now by Rs 8,000 crore after the food processing industries (FPI) achieved a 10 per cent growth against six per cent in 2004, but much more is needed to be done in the sector to completely avoid wastage.

Sahai, “Though India was the largest producer of milk and second largest producer of fruits and vegetables, a large quantity of the perishable commodities was wasted, (due to lack of cold storage facilities).”

Besides, he also inaugurated a building of the Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT).