The Hindu Business Line : ‘Scope for soya use expanding’

Promoting soya: Mr Girish Matlani , President Soy of Food Promotion &Welfare Association, addressing the International Seminar on “Soybean - Farm to Kitchen” in Hyderabad on Friday . (From left) Mr M. Ponnuswami, President, Sakthi Sugars; Mr O.P. Goenka, Technical Director, Foods, Fats and Fertilizers; Mr Joe Meyer Director, United Soybean Board; and M.V. Rao, former Vice-Chancellor of ANGR Agricultural University, also addressed the seminar. –P.V. Sivakumar

Our Bureau

Hyderabad, Aug. 24 Mr O.P. Goenka, Director (Technical) of Foods Fats and Fertilisers Ltd, and an expert on oils, fats and fatty acids, has called for heralding a second ‘Yellow Revolution’ in the country, with soya taking the lead.

Addressing the two-day conference on ‘Soybean – Farm to kitchen’ here on Friday, he said the country witnessed remarkable progress during 1986 and 1993 despite a very low growth in the preceding 30 years, taking oilseeds production to 22 million tonnes from 12 million tonnes. The growth was propelled by strides made by soya farmers during the period, he said.

He, however, said the country lost momentum somewhere along and slipped into a position where it was forced to import edible oils, putting a heavy burden on the exchequer.

Road map

Dr M.V. Rao, a noted agricultural scientist and President of Agri Biotech Foundation, set a road map for development of soya. “We need to have efficient solvent extraction technologies, while expanding the number of products,” he said.

Besides focusing on popularising soya products, the industry should work with village level industries in order to ensure people in the rural areas get access to the nutrient-rich soya products.

There was also a need to develop appropriate varieties that could face droughts and diseases.

Mr Suresh Itapu, Senior Technical Director (Human Nutrition-Asia) of ASA International Marketing, said the scope of soya use had been expanding very rapidly.

Citing the trends in the US, he said soya was being used in a number of beverage and milk products. Pegging the soya products business at $5 billion for 2007, he said soya usage was on the rise in non-retail segments such as defence, HIV/AIDS food supplements, space missions and mass feeding programmes.

More Stories on : Events | Oilseeds & Edible Oil

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Area under most crops increases; rice trails

Need to address the root causes

Chinese demand to support metals

Costlier food pushes up inflation rate

Bearish global trend affects spot rubber

Sugar sector seeks early clearance of subsidy claims

Kanan Devan to cultivate tea in Ethiopia

70% rise in H1 jewellery demand

Buying interest helps pepper futures recoup

Spices Board setting up centre for value-addition

‘Scope for soya use expanding’

Curb areca entry through Nepal: Campco

Winds of change