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Our Bureau

New Delhi , April 8

The Government has urged the food industries to use a higher degree of automation in their processing units to raise overall efficiency levels and quality standards.

"Higher degree of automation will speed up growth process and help improve quality standards,'' Food Processing Minister, Mr Subodh Kant Sahai, said here, after inaugurating a seminar, `Food Tech 2006', organised by the Automation Industry Association (AIA).

Higher level of automation would also ensure adherence to global quality standards and promote efficiency in the sector, he added.

Stressing on the need to strengthen the supply chain logistics in the processing sector, the Minister said that the country loses nearly Rs 50,000 crore worth of fruits and vegetables every year due to inadequate infrastructure.

Mr Sahai said that the Government was seriously considering setting up a pan-India network of cold storage facilities, "which would act as a missing link between pre and post-harvest management and help minimise wastages".

The Minister pointed out that use of higher degree of automation would transform the farm sector completely. He further stressed on the need to adopt the latest technologies faster to facilitate the "sunrise" sector and help the country emerge as a leading producer and exporter of food and beverages.

Mr J.P. Singh, President, AIA, said: "As bigger players optimise economies of scale, it is equally important for the small scale sector to adopt modern technologies in order to attain better quality standards and establish a strong imprint on brand India."

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