India Aims to Become the World’s ‘Food Basket,’ Says Chirag Paswan in Udaipur

Udaipur: Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan, stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clear vision is to make India the world’s “Food Basket.” Speaking at a two-day National Thought Camp organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in Udaipur, Paswan emphasized that strengthening the food processing sector will increase farmers’ income and generate new employment opportunities.

“Our goal is to ensure that at least one Indian food product reaches every dining table across the globe. While India has achieved self-reliance in food production, the next step is improving quality, processing, and global branding,” he said.

Youth Leadership Brings Fresh Energy
On being asked about Nitin Naveen, the newly appointed BJP national president, Paswan stated that promoting young leadership benefits not just the party but the entire NDA alliance. “Young leaders bring fresh perspectives and energy, revitalizing the organization,” he added.

Commenting on Bihar’s politics, Paswan noted that while some parties emphasize caste equations, Prime Minister Modi focuses on women and youth, empowering them with responsibility and opportunities. “My own leadership of a major ministry reflects this trust in young leaders,” he said.

Challenges and Opportunities in Food Processing
Paswan highlighted that while India has excelled in food production, challenges remain in processing, quality, and value addition. “Increasing farmers’ income is not possible without addressing these challenges. Currently, the food processing sector provides around 13% of the country’s employment,” he said.

He acknowledged that past policies prioritized production over processing, but under PM Modi’s leadership, significant structural reforms have been implemented. The government aims to increase food processing levels from 12% to 25%. Paswan emphasized that improving processing does not compromise health; instead, it enhances quality and nutrition, with public awareness campaigns and policy adjustments to support this goal.

Udaipur Inaugurates Fruit Processing Incubation Centre
During the event, a fruit processing incubation centre for Jamun, Sitaphal, and Amla was inaugurated at the Balicha Mandi fruit market in Udaipur. The launch was attended by MP Dr. Manlal Rawat, city MLA Tarachand Jain, and Udaipur Rural MLA Phool Singh Meena. Abhishek Gupta, founder of Khandelwal Food Industries, stated that this is not only Udaipur’s but Rajasthan’s first fruit processing incubation centre. It will directly benefit local farmers and advance the state’s self-reliance in food processing.