Two-Day National Chintan Shivir of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries Begins in Udaipur

Udaipur: A two-day National Chintan Shivir organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, commenced on Monday at the Marriott Hotel in Udaipur. The event witnessed extensive deliberations on strengthening India’s food processing ecosystem. The primary objectives of the conclave include enhancing farmers’ incomes, reducing post-harvest losses, promoting value addition, and creating new employment opportunities for youth and women.

Addressing the inaugural session, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Shri Chirag Paswan, stated that the government aims to develop a modern, competitive, and inclusive food processing sector that can play a pivotal role in India’s economic growth. He emphasized that the food processing sector serves as a powerful medium to directly connect farmers with markets, ensure better prices for agricultural produce, and strengthen the rural economy.

Shri Paswan further noted that the central government is making continuous efforts to attract investments and promote innovation-driven entrepreneurship in the food processing sector. He expressed confidence that such Chintan Shivirs would provide a strong foundation for effective policymaking and play a significant role in positioning India as a global hub for food processing.

The conclave is being attended by senior officials of the ministry, including Secretary Shri Abhinav Joshi, Special Secretary Ms. Nandita Gopal, and Joint Secretary Shri Devesh Deval. On this occasion, special publications highlighting technological advancements in the food processing sector and success stories of winners of the Startup Grant Challenge were also released. These publications are seen as an important step towards inspiring innovation and entrepreneurship.

During the two-day deliberations, in-depth discussions are being held on practical and actionable strategies to enhance food processing capacity, improve ease of doing business, strengthen infrastructure, and promote entrepreneurship. Representatives from industry, startups, and other stakeholders shared their experiences and offered valuable suggestions on policy reforms and investment opportunities.