Th Biswajit at SIAL, Paris to boost food processing industry sector in Manipur
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, October 22 2018: Thongam Biswajit Singh, Minister (Textiles, Commerce & Industry), Manipur accompanied by P Vaiphei, IAS, Principal Secretary (Textiles, Commerce & Industry), Manipur are in Paris, France to participate in the SIAL-2018 World food exhibition event today as part of the Indian Delegation led by Harsimrat Kaur, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Government of India.

SIAL-2018 is known to be the world's largest exhibition of food processing sector and an event that offers wide experience on the latest developments in the sector, which is a key area in the context of the efforts of the Department of Trade, Commerce & Industries which is making concerted efforts in convergence with Horticulture & Soil Conservation Department to tap the huge potential of the State in its organic food products under the Central Government's Kisan-SAMPADA initiatives to cover as many areas of the State as feasible.

Th Biswajit at SIAL, Paris to boost food processing industry sector in Manipur

Biswajit wants to take up the Food Processing Industry sector in Manipur with more Government interventions, especially with the State's good natural resources of agri-horticulture products.

This will enable the State's farmers and entrepreneurs to achieve economic sustenance and better livelihood on one hand and prevent the wastage encountered due to lack of cold storage, food processing infrastructure, latest technologies and know-how, on the other hand.

The Minister also expressed desire for better economic utilisation of the State's salubrious climate and very fertile soil to produce more agri-horticulture products based on more scientific and modern methods while focusing on the vast potential of organic farming and availability of niche markets for organic agri-horticulture products.

He further stressed on the high quality natural fruits like pineapples, oranges, lemons, etc of the State which are much higher in juice content and far better in taste than those found elsewhere.

Biswajit also reiterated the huge potential of the famous U-Morok, which can capture a good market as much as the State's equally famous and exotic Chak-hao, which has gain tremendous popularity and preference among most of the visitors to the State.

Under the initiative of the Minister, the Department of Trade, Commerce & Industries has already started preparations for taking up natural salt production in Manipur which can provide salt with more health benefits at a lower cost when compared to other renowned brands that are available in the State and are imported from outside.

In line with Prime Minister Modi's vision of 'Sabke Saath, Sabke Vikas' and his focus on farmers' welfare through enhanced agriculture & horticulture produces along with their improved processing and marketing, the State could also take up this key sector in a way that would make it more economically viable and effective, Biswajit opined.