Andhra Pradesh is a land of immense opportunities for Food Processing Industry, said Siraj Hussain, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, GoI at a ASSOCHAM-MoFPI Conference here on Friday.
ASSOCHAM along with Ministry of Food Processing, Government of India organized National Conference on “MEGA FOOD PARKS:- Attracting Investment in Food Processing Sector”. The Conference was inaugurated by Siraj Hussain.
Ravindra Sannareddy, Chairman, Southern Regional Council, ASSOCHAM & Co-Founder & Managing Director, Sri City Pvt Ltd in his welcome address outlined the need for organizing this National Conference on Mega Food Parks. He congratulated ASSOCHAM on its initiative in the food processing sector at national, international and state level and said that food processing industry promotes vital linkages and synergies between two main pillars of the economy – industry and agriculture. He said that India’s food processing or Evergreen Revolution can help realize our huge potential in food production and make us a leading food supplier to the world. This can happen only when the state governments can take more initiatives to make this sector as priority sector.
Ravindra Modi, Managing Director, Hyderabad Food Products Private Limited He said that India is one of the world’s largest producer as well as consumer of food products, with the sector playing an important role in contributing to the development of the economy. He also focused on boosting infrastructural investments in the food processing sector. He said that the low level of infrastructure for storage, marketing and distribution of food products in India is one of the key reasons for low processing levels. He also said that the Government of India has identified the Food Processing Industry sector as a high priority area.
In his address G K Vasant Kumar, Special Secretary, Food Processing & Harvest Technology, Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka, highlighted that Karnataka is poised to become the leading food processing hub in India. Clearly, the food processing industry is on the threshold of demand-led growth in the country and within the state of Karnataka. It says Karnataka boasts of specific supply strengths, giving the state a comparative advantage to become a leading food processing hub of the country. With 10 agro-climatic zones and land topography highly suitable for agriculture, Karnataka is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in India. He also said that the state is also the largest producer of spices, aromatic and medicinal plants in the country. In addition, the state has a wealth of livestock and marine resources that augur well for processing of dairy, meat, fish and shrimp.
J S V Prasad, Principal Secretary, Food processing, Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Andhra Pradesh. In his Address he said that The National Conference on “MEGA FOOD PARKS:- Attracting Investment in Food Processing Sector” will provide a good platform to synergize the efforts of all stakeholders to achieve the goal of the ‘inclusive growth’. Food processing industries has been a priority for the government of India as well as the Government of Andhra Pradesh in terms of it’s huge potential. He also said that the State has identified the Food Processing and Agro Based Industry as a thrust area, the investment in food & agro processing is very important for the development of the state. He further added that the current challenges that are being faced by the industry need to be properly addressed and steps need to be taken to remove the bottlenecks hampering the sectoral growth. I’m sure this initiative taken by ASSOCHAM will act as a first step in identifying these challenges, thus providing a roadmap for all the stakeholders to work on, and thus contributing in realizing the immense potential of this industry.
Jagdish Prasad Meena, Additional Secretary, MoFPI, Government of India said that the food processing industry in India is a sunrise sector that has gained prominence in recent years. He also added that India is called the fruit and vegetable basket of the world, there is a huge potentiality in food processing industry for the development of India and Mega Food Park creates a synergy between the two pillars of the economy – Industry and Agriculture. He recognized that Mega Food Park is ideal for setting up Food Processing units involved in pulping, frozen foods, dehydration, pectin foods, poultry, juices, ready to eat, feed mixing, bottling, tetrapak and spices. The Food Park offers the conveniences of state of the art infrastructure that can be shared at lesser costs, common facilities, accessibility to markets, assured raw material supply at better prices and wider reach to markets. He also said that Mega Food Park Scheme is the hatchway to meet the goal of development, abundant investment opportunities and a booming and promising industry will be helped by the Mega Food Park Scheme. MFPS is expected to facilitate the achievement of the Vision 2015 of Ministry of Food Processing Industries to raise the processing of perishables in the country.
Mega Food Park Scheme is the flagship program of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India. Mega Food Park Scheme proposes a demand driven/pre-marketed model with strong backward/forward linkages and sustainable supply chain. Finally he added that Mega Food Parks Scheme aims to facilitate the establishment of a strong food processing industry backed by an efficient supply chain, which would include collection centers, primary processing centers and cold chain infrastructure.
Siraj Hussain in his Inaugural Address he said that there is a huge potentiality in food processing industry for the development of India. He said that Food processing industry in India is increasingly seen as a potential source for driving the rural economy as it brings about synergy between the consumer, industry and agriculture, Food processing has the potential to dramatically improve the rural livelihoods by raising farm incomes through value addition in their agricultural produce. Due to its diverse agro-climatic conditions, India has a wide-ranging and large raw material base suitable for food processing industries. Presently a very small percentage of these are processed into value added products, So the scope, potential & opportunities are huge.
He added that as far Andhra Pradesh State is concerned; to make the state self sufficient and leader in fruits, flowers, spices, vegetables, medicinal plants and aromatic crops; state govt. along with govt. of India is launching various useful schemes for the development of Food Processing in the state. He also said that National Conference on MEGA FOOD PARKS provides platform to discuss the investment opportunities in the food processing Sector and to articulate their expectations from the policy makers, focusing on identifying priorities of target groups etc, therefore, is of utmost importance. With the continued & collaborative efforts of Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt of India with Government of Andhra Pradesh, I am confident that we will be able to sustain our achievements in the production sector for the overall development & welfare of the rural India.
Future, the Mega Food Parks are aimed primarily at providing adequate infrastructure facilities for the food processing industry along the value chain from farm to market, The Mega Food Parks would bring together farmers, retailers and processors and link agricultural production to market in order to maximize value addition, minimize wastage and improve farmers’ income.
He highlighted on the objective of the Mega Food Parks Scheme which provides excellent infrastructure facilities for food processing along the value chain from the farm to market. Which include creation of infrastructure near the farm, transportation, logistics and centralized processing centers. He also focused on the main feature of the scheme is a cluster based approach, which are demand driven, pre marketed and would facilitate food processing units to meet environmental, safety and social standards.
Om S. Tyagi, Sr. Director, ASSOCHAM extended a warm Vote of Thanks to the speakers as well as participants. He also said that this National Conference on Mega Food Parks will act as a first step in identifying these challenges, thus providing a roadmap for all the stakeholders to work on, and thus contributing in realizing the immense potential of this industry. (INN)