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Food industry has wastage of nearly seven billion USD

every year-AFTPAI

An important meeting of Agro & Food Processing Equipment & Technology Providers Association (AFTPAI) held recently during, International Foodtech India 2010. Most of the members of the association took part in the exhibition. President Sanjeev Gupta inaugurated the meeting with a welcome speech. He said, AFTPAI is in talks with SFA, ESFA and VDMA, all leading global associations, for cooperation. He also added, cooperation with these associations would add more technical knowledge and global touch in the association.

He also informed AFTPAI is willing to partner with the government agencies in educating the food processors about the existing and new technologies. There is a high volume of wastage in the agro produce in the entire supply-chain hence we need to involve the government and put our points about how we can reduce the wastage and improve the methods of manufacturing, he said. Honorary Secretary, AFTPAI Firoz H Naqvi opened his speech by thanking all the participants for attending the meeting. He said that, we as an association have progressed a lot in the past couple of months. The association has enrolled some very important names into its fold such as Siemens, Danfoss, Emerson Climate, Metteler Toledo, SMMC and many more, in recent times.

AFTPAI is also creating an informative website of our Association to facilitate the members, aspiring members and food processors who can post their requirement online. AFTPAI has already made the association catalog, posters, forms and other materials. This would help association in reaching more people and participation in big events in India and abroad.

Gupta further added that, Food industry has wastage of nearly seven billion USD every year which needs to be brought to the light of government and need to reduce the same. We can reduce these wastages by taking initiative through this association. The mission of this Association is to address all the problems of Food Processing Industries and its allied sectors. He concluded his speech by thanking all the participants who were present in the meeting.

Manoj Paul updated members about AFTPAI’s meeting with the Minister of MoFPI in last April. He briefed members that AFTPAI is in touch with concerned ministries on the topics of accelerated depreciation, technology up-gradation fund scheme, incubation centers, mega food parks and MODVAT.

Association is also planning to participate in national and international exhibitions to promote usage of good and efficient technologies. Participation in international events would help indigenous machinery manufacturers to exhibit their technologies on the global platforms.

AFTPAI also announced fifteen sub-committees led by important members of the association, the committees are, Food Packaging & Weighing Systems, Food Processing, Dairy & Beverages, Biscuits & Bakery, Snack Food, Fruits & Vegetables, Drives & Automation, Food Ingredients, Refrigeration, Food Services & Hospitality, Food Safety & Inspection System, Pre & Post Handling Systems, Confectionery & Chocolate, Food Safety & Certification, and Dehumidification & Air Control Systems.

AFTPAI also had its catalog inauguration ceremony on the first day of the exhibition. Association also had its stall to convey the message to the visitors in the exhibition.A small group of members of AFTPAI visited almost all the important stall in the exhibition especially those who are not yet become the members and asked them to join the association.

Coca Cola to set up fruit-based beverage plant in Karnataka

Bangalore has proved cool for Coca Cola, as the global soft drink giant has finalised its plans to set up a fruit-based beverage plant at Bidadi on the city outskirts.

Announcing this after inspecting the preparations for the Global Investors’ Meet at Palace Grounds, large and medium industries minister Murugesh Nirani said, “Coca Cola has decided to set up a huge fruit-based beverages plant at Bidadi, near its trademark soft drink plant.”

The decision is a result of the state government’s special efforts to develop Karnataka as a premier destination for the food processing industry. A senior department official said, “The proposed Coca Cola plant will go a long way in helping farmers, especially those growing horticultural crops, to find a ready market for their produce. The Rs107-crore project will provide jobs to over 500 persons.”

Nirani added that Cauvery water would be supplied to the plant, and no special arrangements were required to meet its water needs.

The announcement came four days after processed food major Nestle India’s proposal to set up a Rs350-crore instant noodles and condiments manufacturing unit in Mysore, with an employment potential of about 630 persons. It is expected to start production within one year.

Replying to a question about Hero Honda’s proposal to establish a two-wheeler production plant in Karnataka, Nirani, said the company was yet to finalise its decision: “Karnataka is among the top choices of the company to establish the plant,” he said.

The two-day GIM would see the finalisation of over 400 investment proposals worth over Rs4 lakh-crore, that will generate employment for 5.82 lakh persons, Nirani said.

Source DNA

Ministry of Food Processing Industries to Facilitate Setting up of a Laboratory for Wine Testing and Certification

The Minister of Food Processing Industries, Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, has said that Indian wine sector requires a long-term commitment, as it is a very capital intensive industry. Inaugurating the National Conference on ‘Indian Wine Sector – Potential & Challenges’ here last week, Shri Sahai said that we should not be deterred by the lean phase through which the industry is passing, including unsold stock of wines. He emphasized the importance of quality in the Indian wine sector and said that all phases of the industry should be geared towards quality. “It is, therefore, important to set up international level facilities for wine and promoting Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)/ Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), etc. We would, therefore, facilitate setting up of the laboratory for wine testing and certification”, Shri Subodh Kant Sahai said.

The Minister of Food Processing Industries further said that during his recent visit to the Head Quarters of the ‘Organization of Vine and Wine’ (OIV), he and his delegation got an insight into the role that this inter-governmental organization of wine producing nations can play in the development of Indian wine industry. Shri Sahai informed the National Conference on ‘Indian Wine Sector – Potential & Challenges’ that his Ministry has processed the case for India to become a member of OIV.

The Conference was organized by the Indian Grape Processing Board (IGPB). Secretary of the Ministry, Shri Ashok Sinha, presided over the function. Shri Subodh Kant Sahai said that he would like to see IGPB having strong foundations and in this direction he has written to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to allot land to IGPB for construction of its building at Pune, which is the Head Quarters of the Board.

Curtsey: PIB

Generation of Employment in

Food Processing Sector

Food Processing Industry is employment intensive. It has been estimated that for every Rs.1 crore invested, it creates 18 jobs directly and 64 indirectly in the organized sector and 20 jobs in the unorganised sector across the supply chain. At present food processing sector employs about 13 million people directly and about 35 million people indirectly. Government is encouraging Food Processing Sector to increase the processing level from 6% to 20 % and value addition increase from 20% to 30%. However, no specific area and gender-wise employment figures are maintained in the Ministry.

Share of various States in employment in the food processing industries is as follows:

Sl No.	Name of the State	Share of employment in %
1	Andhra Pradesh	14.1%
2	Assam	4.7%
3	Gujarat	5.9%
4	Haryana	3.3%
5	Karnataka	6.0%
6	Kerala	11.9%
7	Madhya Pradesh	2.3%
8	Maharashtra	7.8%
9	Punjab	7.7%
10	Tamil Nadu	11.2%
11	Uttar Pradesh	12.0%
12	West Bengal	4.8%
13	Others	8.3%

(Source: IMAC on behalf of National Skill Development Corporation).

The data of employment generation in respect of other countries cannot be compared with employment data of states.

As far as the future Action Plan for the remaining part of Eleventh Plan regarding employment generation is concerned, the expansion of food processing sector will have bearing on employment generation. Government has taken necessary steps to create more jobs in the food processing sector by providing financial assistance through its various schemes for development of food processing sector which is expected to lead to increased level of processing and employment. Thus the Ministry has adopted Vision 2015, which aims to triple the size of food sector in 10 year’s time by increasing the level of processing of perishables from 6% to 20%, value addition from 20% to 35% and share in global food trade from 1.5% to 3%.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI) has been implementing various schemes for promotion and development of food processing industries in the country. MFPI through its various schemes for financial assistance and other promotional measures facilitates creation of food related infrastructure including processing facilities aimed at reducing wastages, enhancing value addition and increasing shelf life. Under the Scheme for Technology Up gradation/ Modernization/ Establishment of Food Processing Industries, MFPI extends financial assistance to food processing industries in the form of grant-in-aid @ 25% of the cost of plant and machinery and technical civil works subject to a maximum of Rs. 50.00 lakh in general area or 33.33% subject to maximum of Rs. 75.00 lakh in difficult areas such as Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, North Eastern States, A&N Islands, Lakshadweep and ITDP areas. In addition, under the Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in North Eastern and Himalayan States, higher levels of assistance @ 50% up to maximum of Rs. 4.00 Crore for setting up and Rs. 1.00 Crore for Up gradation of fruit and vegetables processing is available. A National Horticulture Mission (NHM) has been launched with an objective to boost the horticulture sector.

In the 11th Plan, the Ministry has approved new scheme to establish 30 Mega Food Parks with a view to provide state-of-the- art infrastructure for food processing sector in the country on a pre-identified cluster basis with a strong backward and forward linkage and to provide value addition of agricultural commodities including poultry, meat, dairy, fisheries etc. in a demand driven manner. Financial assistance up to 50% of project cost excluding land component in general areas and 75% in difficult areas, subject to a maximum of Rs. 50.00 Crore is provided for setting up of Mega Food Parks.

To encourage setting up of cold chain facilities and backward linkages in the country, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI) has a Plan Scheme for Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure during the 11th Plan to provide financial assistance to project proposals received from public / private organizations for cold chain infrastructure development. The scheme envisages financial assistance in the form of grant-in- aid @ 50% of the total cost of plant and machinery and technical civil works in general areas and 75% for North Eastern Region and difficult areas subject to a maximum of Rs.10.00 Crore. There is no specific Plan for backward areas of Andhra Pradesh in this regard, however, Ministry has approved a mega food park which will link to agrarian communities to produce raw materials for further processing resulting in employment generation in Andhra Pradesh.

This information was given by Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, Minister of Food Processing Industries in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

Curtsey: PIB

A quantum jump in the fund allocation for MoFPI

Government has taken major initiatives to provide impetus to food processing sector. There has been a quantum jump in the fund allocation for 11^th Plan Schemes. The total plan allocation for 10^th Plan was Rs.650.00 crore whereas total fund allocation for 11^th Plan Scheme is Rs.4,031.00 crore. As a result of concerted efforts and focused approach the food processing sector is growing at an average rate of approximately 13.5% per annum. The level of processing has gone up by about 4% from existing 6% in 2005 to 10% in 2009 and value addition by 6% from 20% to 26% in the same period.

Government have approved 30 Mega Food Parks, 30 Cold Chain and 50 Abattoirs to be set up during the 11^th Plan Period. In the Ist phase, 10 projects in each component have been approved to be assisted. Ministry has approved 6 Mega Food Parks, 10 Cold Chain and 10 Abattoirs till date which are at different stages of progress. It is expected that processing level and value addition will increase considerably and there will be a reduction of wastage of farm produce. Farmers will get remunerative prices thereby increasing their income. Employment opportunity will be increased in rural areas. Entrepreneurs will get adequate supply of desired variety of raw materials and consumers will have a choice of wide variety of quality processed food products.

In the 11^th Plan, out of total 30 approved Mega Food Parks, 10 have been approved to be taken up in the 1^st phase and final approval was accorded for setting up of 6 Mega Food Parks in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, North-East (Assam), Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. Details of the location where the 6 Mega Food Parks have been approved to be set up are given below:

Sl. No.	Name of Places
1.	Getalsud, Ranchi Distt. Jharkhand
2.	Padartha Village, Haridwar Distt. Uttarakhand
3.	Village Tihu, Nalbari Distt. Assam
4.	Jangipur, West Bengal
5.	Mogili Village,Chittoor Distt. Andhra Pradesh
6.	Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu

Government has already approved setting up of a Mega Food Park in Haridwar District of Uttarakhand. The Core Processing Centre (CPC) is located at Padartha village, Haridwar. It has acquired land for setting up of 5 Primary Processing Centres (PPC) at Prahladpur, Maral, Dev Prayag, Budhana and Daudpur Haji.

This information was given by Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, Minister of Food Processing Industries in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.