"Food Processing " is next buzzing in Indian Industry
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| Food in stores and in malls |
The semi-nude protests of Tamil nadu farmers in delhi really shook the civilized hearts of this nation.The mere act of drinking urine shows the dire situation of poor farmers with environment. The farming even though became a blindfold game and winning it is a rare occurance due to climate change. The farming problems are not new in this country but in present technological and advanced world, the solutions are not yet fully explored. The Prime minsiter promise of double income, reduction of farmer suicides and fight of hunger can be dealt with "Food Processing" industry.
In any developed world the nations first start with primary sector later to secondary sector and then to territory sector. In case of India the revolution in primary sector and territory sector taken place and reaped fruits to human life. The industrial or secondary sector yet to unfold its revolution. The plans of "Small and Heavy industries" even though benefited the nation, still there is still scope for the sector. The "Food industries" can unlock the potentiality and scale of operations that it will not only increase the GDP of nation but address the malnutrition problem.
The recent Tamil nadu government bringing its own food processing policy motivates the agricultural depending states to fallow its path.
Food processing: Food processing is a process under which the raw product of agricultural, dairy, animal husbandry, fish and poultry were preserved scientifically and transformed into edible ad healthy food for consumption of humans. Many physical properties go a change for preserving the food for very longer period. This include value addition, standards, nutrition,colour etc.
The Food processing Industry provide vital linkages and synergies to both industry and agriculture.
The food industry helps in
1) Employment generation
2)Doubling farmers income
3)Reducing malnutrition
4)Reduce food wastage
5)Boosts trade and foreign exchang
6)Curbing migration
7)Curbing food inflation
8)Crop diversification
9)Enhance the quality and taste of food
10)Enhance the consumer choices
India after China is the world's second largest producer of vegetable and fruits. Inspite of such large food base very less percentage of it goes to processing. Most processing considered as primary processing. The primary processing is low valued compared to secondary processing. In Indian context the raw material of indian agricultural products are processed in other countries and branded back to India for the local markets to consume. Many soft drink companies importing thousand tons of potatots from Indian farmers at cheaper prices and selling back as snacks and chips to indian consumers.They are making huge profits by this value addition.We need to bring these small scale industries into the rural sector.
The growing middle class which is mostly urban habitat demands for semi processed and processed foods. The share of processed food in indian markets is less. The recent bill of APMC act only created impulse in state markets. In order to pave path for enforcement of APMC act under "One country Once market" the use of technology was brought. Due to 'poor rural market infrastructure', 'corruption' and 'middle man influences' the APMC act was not succeeded in present form.
The growing middle class which is mostly urban habitat demands for semi processed and processed foods. The share of processed food in indian markets is less. The recent bill of APMC act only created impulse in state markets. In order to pave path for enforcement of APMC act under "One country Once market" the use of technology was brought. Due to 'poor rural market infrastructure', 'corruption' and 'middle man influences' the APMC act was not succeeded in present form.
The potentiality of north east climate and access of ports to the major markets helps for establishment of Food processing industry. The localisation of these enterprises by the farm cooperatives or big farmers will not only create lucrative markets but also give stability to growers. The government with various incentives provide environment for industry to grow. Such opportunites help the local markets and agripreneurs. Some of the government supported programmes and policy initiatives are:
The Ministry of Food Processig Industries is implementing PMKSY(Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana). under this PMKSY many projects are started for boosting food processing industry. Some of them are "Mega food parks", ""Integrated cold chain, value addition infrastructure","Schemes for forward and backward linkages","Infrastructure for food processing clusters". For creating the space for competitions among the players the FDI is allowed upto 100% nder automatic route is allowed in food processing industry. An organisation APEDA was created for focusing the exports of processed food.
The states like Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana are lead leaders of agro-food processed industries. The factors responsible for these localisation of industry are given below
Factors for localization:
1)Raw material base-Punjab one of highest in wheat and rice, Rajasthan important area for millet , Haryana for milk and livestock.
2)Robust agri marketing infrstructure.Punjab has close to 30 agro processing clusters(one of highest in India)
3)Robust infrastructure – extensive network of good roads and internal container depots.
4)Stable adequate and cheap energy.- most North Western states are energy surplus
5)Governance-prompt MSP procurement in these areas encourage rice Millers .Support to FPIs in form to tax incentives and subsidies
6)Geographical advantage and close location to key markets like Delhi
7) Cheap skilled and semi skilled labour.
The conclusion can be drawn that the outcomes of green revolution 1 and 2 was utilised for sustainance of food supply and for nations growth. In order to feed the world largets population depending on traditional way of markets can not be durable. The growing hunger and malnutrition is important challenges in Indian context. The standards of Codex and international standards need to male mandatory for all the industrial products. The education of masses about GM crops, processed food also need to be taken for reducing misconceptions about food industry. The players in the markets need to look the business of food processing not as one more profit oriented rather it as responsible for their product quality and services.
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