FNB News - ASSOCHAM & MoFPI co-organise Rudrapur Agri & Food Processors’ Conclave

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ASSOCHAM & MoFPI co-organise Rudrapur Agri & Food Processors’ Conclave

Friday, 28 November, 2014, 08 : 00 AM [IST]

Our Bureau, New Delhi

Prof H S Dhami, vice-chancellor, G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, inaugurated the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India’s (ASSOCHAM) Agri and Food Processors’ Conclave in Rudrapur recently. The ministry of food processing industries (MoFPI), the government of Uttarakhand and Kumaon Garhwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) co-organised the meet.

In his preliminary address, Sandeep Kochhar, deputy director, ASSOCHAM, outlined the need for organising the event. He said, “The agro-climatic condition in the state makes it suitable for growing almost all kinds of agricultural and horticultural crops, and setting up food processing industries.”

“The government of India is promoting the food processing sector in the region to utilise its vast potential of raw horticultural produce through financial assistance schemes by MoFPI and the ministry of micro-, small and medium enterprises (MSME), and agencies like the National Horticulture Board (NHB), the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the Quality Council of India (QCI), the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and the government of Uttarakhand,” he added.

Kochhar said, “To develop strategic symbiotic synergy between the efforts of the government and the industries, ASSOCHAM took an initiative to organise this workshop with the aim of reaching the budding food processing units in the state of Uttarakhand, and make them aware about the various assistance plans and schemes of the Central and state government.”

In his welcome address, Ashok Bansal, president, KGCCI, highlighted the constraints in the backward and forward linkages in the food processing sector, and called upon the Uttarakhand government to play an important catalytic role in this effort by building partnerships with various Central government bodies, bankers, financial institutions and technical and management institutions.

In his special address, Dr Ratan Kumar, deputy director of Uttarakhand’s horticulture mission, elaborated on the guidelines of the National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP).

He discussed the various schemes covered under the scheme, and the Special Integrated Industrial Promotion Policy, 2008 for Hilly and Remote Areas of Uttarakhand to provide incentives to set up industries. He also identified the potential areas for investment in Uttarakhand, especially in fruit processing, fruit wines, vegetables and medicinal plants.

The address was followed by a presentation by C P Mohan, chief general manager, NABARD.

He spoke about its role in strengthening the food processing sector, and threw light on the support from the financial institution for the establishment of rural godowns, the strengthening of agri-marketing infrastructure, grading and standardisation, agri-clinic and agri-business centres, the commercial production of organic inputs like bio-fertiliser and composting units of fruit and vegetable wastes, venture capital scheme for the poultry sector, and the Central sector scheme on piggery development.

Dr Dhami released ASSOCHAM’s knowledge paper, titled ‘Food Processing Opportunities in Uttarakhand’, at the event. In his inaugural address, he focussed on strengthening India’s position in the global food processing industry scenario and reducing the high percentage of wastage of the agricultural produce.

He also highlighted the low level of food processing in India. It is six per cent in the country; 60-80 per cent in the developed countries and over 30 per cent in most other Asian, Latin American and other developing countries.

“The food processing sector, undoubtedly, has the potential to be an industry driver that can transform India’s rural economy. I recognise that there are a number of constraints both in the forward and backward linkages in the sector,” Dr Dhami added.

“But if we get our act together, as we must, India would emerge a leader in the global food processing industry. That should be our ambition,” he said.

“Most of India’s large industrial houses have a growing presence in the food processing sector. I would like the Indian industry to think big and to think globally about the future of this very important sector of our economy. There is no reason why they should not emerge as global brand names, just as our information technology (IT) industry has done to our great satisfaction,” Dr Dhami added.

Kochhar extended a vote of thanks to the speakers and participants, adding that the conclave was well received by the enthusiastic budding entrepreneurs, and overall, it was very successful, and it is a small step for a giant leap.

Others who spoke at the occasion were Dr B Kumar, dean, College of Agri Business Management, GBPUAT; Dr C Tiwari, programme coordinator, Kendriya Vidyalaya Kashipur (KVK); A K Upadhyay, joint director, Department of Agriculture, Government of Uttarakhand; Sudhir Kumar Mishra, general manager (plant), Dr Oetker India Pvt Ltd; G S Sandhu, managing director, Tarai Foods, and Hari Prakash Sharma, managing director, Harit Agro Products.