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Roadmap to control tomato, onion, potato prices: Minister

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New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Tuesday said the government was planning to draw a sustainable roadmap to keep soaring prices of staples tomato, onion and potato in control, an official statement said.

“Under ‘Operation Greens’, we shall be creating a sustainable road map to ensure that tomato onion potato (TOP) are available in every nook and corner of the country round the year without any price volatility,” she said, as per the statement.

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the vegetables growers were among his government’s priority and Rs 500 crore has been allocated for Operation Greens, which aims at doubling farmers’ income by 2022.

Badal also said the government had plans to compress the supply chains and create appropriate climate infrastructure for natural preservation of these commodities, besides promoting Farmers Producers Organizations, Agri Logistics Processing facilities and professional management.

The Minister said establishment of Specialised Agro Processing Financial Institutions as announced in the Union Budget would unlock finance for setting up food processing industries.

“These institutions would help overcome the deterrents faced while installing food processing projects that are capital intensive and have long gestation period, by ensuring timely, accessible and affordable credit to this sector,” she said.

She said the thrust was given in the Budget for promoting agri-clusters and mega food parks “to strengthen farmers”.

Badal also said about $4 billion of the intended investment of $14 billion – pledged MoUs during World Food India event held last year – had translated into the actual investment.

Food processing sector constitutes around eight per cent and 10 per cent of Gross Value Added (GVA) in manufacturing and agriculture sector in 2015-16, the minister said.

“Value of processed food export has increased to $13.9 billion on 2016-17 which constitutes 11.2 per cent of India’s total export,” she said.

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.

The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.

Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.

Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.

For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.

During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.

Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.

Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .

Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.

In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.

In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.

He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.

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