Existing Challenges in Establishing Robust Linkages

♤ Small and dispersed marketable surplus due to fragmented holdings

♤ High seasonality of raw material production

♤ Large number of intermediaries

♤ Poor infrastructure facilities like cold storage, transport facilities, electricity etc.

♤ Industry is highly fragmented and is dominated by the unorganized sector

♤ Substandard levels of processing industries

♤ Inadequacy of information with farmers and small processors.

♤ Multiplicity of legislation leads to contradictions in specifications, conflicting approach, lack of co-ordination and administrative delays.

o For instance, manufacturers of packaged food products such as jams and squashes are obligated to comply with quality standards and label declarations prescribed under multiple legislations, such as The Standards of Weights & Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) and Fruit Products Order (FPO)

♤ Anomalies in domestic food laws with international food safety standards

♤ Under developed food testing network