New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) A national traders body Sunday accused the government of making false claims about wastage of fruits and vegetables in order to bring in FDI in the retail sector.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) alleged that the government was misleading the nation on this issue.
It said the reports of Planning Commission’s Working Group on Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure for the 12th Five Year Plan has cited the Indian Council on Agricultural Research (ICAR) report as contradicting the claims that 30-40 percent of fruits and vegetables produced in India were wasted.
Commerce Minister Anand Sharma has repeatedly argued for foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail to curb such wastage.
CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal asked Sharma to divulge the source or reference or study based on which he claims that 30-40 percent of all fruits and vegetables go waste in India.
“It is a wrong statement of the government which has been propounded just to facilitate the entry of FDI in retail trade,” he said.
