Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the launch of Startup India action plan at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Saturday, January 16, 2016. (PTI photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today suggested mixing at least 2 per cent fruit juice in aerated drinks to help distressed farmers find a new market for their produce.
Speaking at the conference of start-up businesses, PM Modi said he suggested the idea to top officials of leading aerated drinks companies who visited him recently.
"Why can't 2 per cent natural juice be mixed in aerated drinks? This will provide farmers a market for their produce," he explained.
The possibility of blending cold carbonated drinks, which are widely considered not healthy, with natural fruit juice is also being looked into.
According to a recent report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, consumption of non-alcoholic beverages is expected to increase by 16.5-19 per cent over the next three years in the country.