Food conference chennai 9/7/2010

FOOD CON 2010 ON 9TH JULY AT CHENNAI


SPEECH OF THE HON.MINISTER OF STATE, PROF. K.V.THOMAS,
AT THE CONFERENCE ON LATEST TRENDS IN FOO PROCESSING
AND PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGY


I am glad to be associated with the Conference on latest trends in Food Processing and Preservation Technology being organized by Tamil Nadu Technology Development and Promotion Centre of the CII.

1. Food Processing Industry is of enormous significance for India’s development because of the vital linkages and synergies, it promotes between the two pillars of our economy, industry and agriculture. Fast growth in the food processing sector and simultaneous improvement of the development of value chain are of great importance to achieve favourable terms of trade for Indian Agriculture both in the domestic and the international market. Poor infrastructure in terms of cold storage coupled with inadequate quality control and testing infrastructure, high transportation and inventory carrying cost and inefficient supply chain are the major constraints in the Food Processing Industry. The efficient Food Processing Industry could meet food security need of our country by minimizing post harvest losses.
2 It is necessary to improve the quality of our existing storage infrastructure on the lines of modern technology being adopted by various countries like China, Australia, USA. The present bag storage system for food crops is labour intensive, time consuming and quality compromising transport methods. Our bagged storage do not have temperature control or scientifically monitored fumigation system.

3. The bulk handling concept, as proposed under the National Policy on Storage, Handling and Transportation has led to an inadequate response and the existing system is leading to high storage and transit losses between harvest and consumption. Our country can ill offer such level of huge losses, which could be minimized only by adoption of Modern Scientific Storage System. There is a strong need to keep pace with the latest technology on scientific management of grain storage. Creation of bulk handling capacity in the form of Silos is required to be developed ,to have better operational efficiency innovative climate control, rodent control and logistic efficiency.

5. The China’s experience shows that a dedicated single window approach is inevitable in grain storage as in highways or airport development. A dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is required to be floated with public sector participation, project financing capability and marketing skill. The SPV can show case international and national investment opportunity to facilitate such projects. There is a necessity to develop a globally competitive grain quality and standards organization in the public sphere.

6. India needs to develop quality grain storage professionals encompassing experts in I.T., agriculture, engineering and management to manage and maintain a Modern Storage System.

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