National Organic Food Festival 2020 Reflects Health Uptrend

Photo: Rakhi Sinha, Founder & CEO, The Syntax Systems, India

National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Sonepat, Haryana, India; Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India (GoI); Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), GoI; and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) together organized National Organic Food Festival 2020. Held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, India, the 3 days event kicked off on February 21, 2020 with the Union Minister, FPI, Mrs Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Union Minister, WCD, Smriti Irani, jointly inaugurating it. Mrs Badal projected the fete as one of the stepping stones to capacity building and economic empowerment of women working in the organic food sector.

The event particularly focused on women entrepreneurs in the organic food industry. Over 180 women entrepreneurs from across India, participated in the event. Several Self-Help Groups (SHGs) too exhibited. The range of organic supplies, including regional specialties, for sale was immense. Right from cold pressed oils & beverages to grains & seeds to spices & condiments to sauces & ketchup to ready to cook Indian snacks to roasted snacks to sugar, sweeteners, & natural seasonings to dung cakes to mud soaps to vegetables and so much more.

A food court had well laid out seating arrangement in the center with food stalls bordering them. Tandoori, North Indian, baked snacks, and organically prepared Northeastern delicacies kept pulling the crowd.

Overall, the festival witnessed good footfall and trade. Some B2B deals too were signed. The exhibition sure started on an encouraging note and should pave way for a bigger scale and regional versions too.