Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan met Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma at the state secretariat in Shillong on Thursday and, the following day, chaired meetings of a parliamentary consultative committee and the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) Council to review the country’s food processing sector and related policy initiatives. The meetings examined ongoing reforms, capacity-building measures and steps to improve implementation of ministry schemes in Meghalaya.
An official statement said, “The NIFTEM Council deliberated on key institutional and policy matters relating to capacity building, research, and strengthening of the food processing ecosystem in the country. Members discussed ways to align institutional frameworks with industry requirements and emerging opportunities in the sector.” Council discussions focused on aligning NIFTEM’s research and training priorities with industry needs and on harnessing emerging market opportunities for processed agricultural products.
Addressing the meetings, Paswan underlined the role of food processing in cutting post-harvest losses and increasing value addition for farmers’ produce. He flagged persistent challenges in the sector, including infrastructure gaps, limited access to finance for processors and farmers, and technological constraints that hinder scaling and supply-chain efficiency.
Participants reviewed policy tools and institutional reforms intended to strengthen the food-processing ecosystem, with emphasis on improving research support, workforce development and public–private collaboration to translate reforms into investments and on-ground solutions for Meghalaya and other states.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/union-min-chirag-calls-on-meghalaya-cm-conrad-chairs-meet-on-food-sector/articleshow/130178198.cms
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-04-10 23:56:00
