Linkages enhance the capability of the food processing industry to generate demand for the products of/in the other industries. They are mainly of two types:

• Backward Linkages: These linkages establish the connectivity of the food processing industry with sources of raw material supply. For example, supply of raw material like tomatoes to a ketchup manufacturer.
• Forward Linkages: These linkages establish the connectivity of the food processing industry with the markets through a distribution network consisting of physical infra like storages, road and rail network etc.

Significance of backward and forward linkages

• Direct link between farmers and food processors encourages and enables farmers to grow products of appropriate quality.
• Removal of intermediaries helps the farmers fetch appropriate and remunerative return for their produce especially the marginal and medium farmers.
• The establishment of cold storage facilities help to reduce the food wastage especially of perishable products with low shelf life like fruits, vegetables, dairy products etc.
• Backward linkages ensure timely accessibility to raw materials and storage facilities for agri produce.
• Similarly, connectivity with markets through distribution networks ensures timely delivery of food products to the consumer markets.
• Maintaining high quality of products and creation of better infrastructure results in cost saving and enhanced efficiency.
• These links among farmers, industry and consumers provide a level playing field for all stakeholders and enhance competitiveness.
• It also helps to improve hygiene and food safety standards leading to greater acceptability of processed food domestically and in the international market.

Challenges in establishing robust linkages

• Due to fragmented land holdings, the marketable surplus is small and dispersed which makes it difficult for industry to timely procure quality raw materials.
• High seasonality of raw material production limits the effective utilisation of linkages.
• Large number of intermediaries and poor infrastructure facilities like cold storage, transport facilities, electricity etc. hinders backward and forward integration.
• Highly fragmented and unorganised nature of food processing industry limits the capability to ensure an efficient supply chain across the industry.
• Inadequacy of information with farmers and small processors and substandard levels of processing leads to compromise with the quality of products.
• Multiplicity of legislation governing the food processing sector leads to contradictions in specifications, conflicting approach, lack of co-ordination and administrative delays.
• Anomalies in domestic food laws with international food safety standards and under developed food testing network.

To address these challenges, the government has launched the ‘Scheme for Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages’ for effective and seamless backward and forward integration by plugging the gaps in the supply chain. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided for setting up of primary processing centers/ collection centers at farm gate and modern retail outlets at the front end. Furthermore, the government organised Mega International Food Submit and World Food India Hackathon to design solutions by leveraging technology for various problems in the food processing sector.

Multidimensional poverty, going beyond the income criteria, measures poverty deprivation in three key areas – living standards, education and healthcare, that a poor person simultaneously faces. Recently, the NITI Aayog has released the ‘National Multidimensional Poverty Index: Baseline Report and Dashboard’.
The Multi-dimensionality Poverty Index (MPI) serves as a better model than income criteria to identify poor persons due to the following reasons:

• Multidimensional approach: The MPI takes advantage of the availability of multipurpose household surveys, which allow data on different dimensions to be drawn from the same survey. They identify the people who experience overlapping deprivations.
• Better comparison: The MPI can show the prevalence of multidimensional poverty across different regions, ethnic groups or any other population sub-group.

In this context, the following steps have been taken to help reduce multidimensional poverty in India:

• Child mortality:
  • Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) have been launched to promote institutional deliveries through cash incentives.
  • India Newborn Action Plan (INAP) was launched in 2014 to ensure attainment of the goals of “Single Digit Neonatal Mortality Rate” and “Single Digit Stillbirth Rate,” by 2030.
  • The Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health programme (RMNCH+A) encompasses all interventions aimed at reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health under a broad umbrella.
  • Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) was launched to provide vaccination to children against life threatening diseases. Similarly, “Mission Indradhanush and Intensified Mission Indradhanush” have been launched to immunize children who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
  • Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) provides fixed-day assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care universally to all pregnant women.
  • Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) provides comprehensive care to all the children in the age group of 0-18 years in the community.
• Nutrition:
  • Various schemes like the National Nutrition Mission, PM- POSHAN (Mid Day Meal) scheme etc. have been launched with the aim of tackling the malnutrition problem prevalent in India.
  • Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) have been set up at public health facilities to treat and manage the children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
  • Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation for prevention of anaemia among the vulnerable age groups and home visits by ASHAs to promote exclusive breastfeeding.
  • Health and nutrition education through Information, Education & Communication (IEC) and Behavior Change Communication (BCC) is being carried out.
• Education:
  • Various schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mahila Samakhya Programme, Scheme of Vocational Education, scholarships schemes for vulnerable sections, various fellowships etc. are being provided.
  • The New Education Policy 2020 has been launched to ensure ‘universal access at all levels of school education’.
• Living Standards:
  • Swachha Bharat Abhiyan aims to ensure cleanliness and sanitation.
  • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is aimed at providing housing for all.
  • Swajal Sheme has been launched to provide clean drinking water.
  • PM Ujjawala Yojana has been launched to provide clean cooking fuel.
  • Under Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna (SAUBHAGYA), electricity connections were started for BPL families for free and other families at concessional rates.

Apart from the above mentioned initiatives, the government should focus on accelerating economic growth, agricultural growth, human resource development and infrastructure development, implementation of Universal Basic Income, capacity development of government officials etc., which will help India achieve its Sustainable Development Goal 1 i.e. end poverty in all its forms everywhere.