The Hindu Business Line : Kakodkar calls for steps to tap agri potential

Dr Anil Kakodkar, Chairman of Atomic Energy commission, has called for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to tap huge opportunities in the agriculture sector by adding value to the products. Using the technological tools to value add agricultural produce could reverse migrations to urban areas.

Technology-intensive initiatives, including irradiation technologies, could help tap the potential of country's agriculture base, he said.

Addressing a national symposium on `Radiation processing of foods, food products and feeds' here, he said village-friendly technologies could trigger economic activity in rural areas if used cleverly. The symposium was organised by the Federation of Farmers' Associations.

Stating that the irradiation process was absolutely safe, he said it would enhance shelf life of agricultural products, allowing the exporters to reach distant and bigger markets that offer them good returns.

It reduced contamination and helped meet quarantine requirements. Also, it would result in checking price fluctuations. "If they are assured of that, the farmers tend to produce more," he said.

Irradiation

Dr Srikumar Banerjee, Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), has said that India lagged behind with regard to use of irradiation for processing food and agri-products.

"At 2,000 metric tonnes it is just a fraction. Compare this with Netherlands' 30,000 tonnes, China's 1.40 lakh tonnes and US' 40,000 tonnes," he said.

The Ministry of Health was asked to go for tests in classes such as cereals and spices and not item by item. Generic clearances would make it much easier for clearances.

He hoped for export of irradiated mangoes by next summer. A plan has been prepared. "We will be able to do that," he said and added that this would open up great opportunities.

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