The Hindu Business Line : `Kerala State has vast scope in food processing'

INDIA Development Foundation, in association with CII and the British High Commission, organised a workshop on the prospects and challenges in the agri-business sector in the country, with special focus on Kochi.

The workshop was attended by nearly 100 representatives from the Government, food processing industry, export sector and regional and local industry associations.

The aim of the conference was to create awareness among the food processing industries in Kochi regarding food safety standards and quality management issues such as health and hygiene in processed foods. It was also meant to discuss the prospects and challenges that exist in the domestic agri-business sector, with a focus on Kerala especially the high value segments such as meat processing and marine products.

Mr M.K. Koshy, Chairman, CII, Kerala State Council, said that food processing has tremendous potential in the State. However, there is a need for development of a modern, sophisticated food park equipped with most scientific technologies. Infrastructure facilities are the need of the hour for development of food processing in the State, he said and added that high value crops like fruits and vegetables, vanilla and fresh water and marine fishes are the sunrise sectors in the State.

Dr Amir Ullah Khan of the India Development Foundation pointed out that the Kochi conference is the sixth in the series held by the Foundation on food processing and agri business. The need for the Indian food processing industries is to face the challenges of stringent food safety standards.

Talking about the vision of IDF of promoting market based development, he emphasised the fact that food processing sector has the potential of making agriculture `demand driven' rather than being `supply driven'. Briefing the participants about the work done by IDF in the area of food processing and food safety standards, Dr Khan highlighted the fact that awareness for and compliance to the SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) standards is important for becoming globally competitive in the food sector.

Ms Minnie Mathew, Chairperson of the Coconut Development Board, underlined the importance of food processing in value addition and employment generation in the farm sector. The goal of 5 per cent plus growth targeted in the 10th plan is contingent upon the growth in the farm sector. Investment in the farm sector can be stepped up through food processing industries promoting value addition in the farm produce, she said.

There are numerous advantages to capitalise on the food sector. Growing incomes, changing lifestyles, vast biodiversity all work in tandem to create positive synergies of growth of the food sector. The food industry, she said today is caught in the vicious cycle of inefficiency, apathy of food processors to quality and safety issues and ineffective regulatory mechanism. There is a need for a public-private partnership to develop to plug in the glaring loopholes in the food supply chain, she added.

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