‘Huge Potential For MSMEs In Food Processing & Packaging In Odisha’

Bhubaneswar: Though India occupies the status of leader in food production, but only 10 percent of food is processed in the country, said Economic Advisor from Ministry of Food Processing Industry, Government of India, New Delhi BK Behera at a seminar on “Food Processing in Odisha with Focus on Packaging” held on the sidelines of Odisha MSME International Trade Fair-2018.

Stating that over Rs.1 lakh crore worth of food is wasted in India, which can actually feed many small countries, Behera stressed on the need for waste reduction by setting up of food processing units, which has large employment potential.

In his address, Director Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), Mumbai Dr. N.C. Saha stated that food processing is globally a $770 billion market providing employment to over 5 billion people.

“Packaging is an integral part of food processing. Asia Pacific countries constitute third largest market in packaging sector. Packaging is a combination of science, art and technology, which not only adds self-life to a food product, but also adds to the value of the product. In the context of the food items like rasagola, chenapoda, talgur, tamarind paste, spices produced abundantly in Odisha, setting up of state of the art packaging units in Odisha is an attractive proposition. Packaging will enhance branding, improve preservation and ensure value addition,” he added.

While presenting the background remarks, Additional Chief Secretary, MSME LN Gupta said, “Odisha is the 4th largest shrimp producer in the country and 9th largest fish producing state. It has 25 lakh MT of surplus cereal production and more than 32 lakh MT of surplus rice. Besides, it produces 100 lakh tons of vegetables, 85,000 MT of cashew, 6.5 lakh tons of spices and 20 lakh tons of milk, which altogether offer a huge potential for food processing industry in the state. With attractive incentives up to Rs.5 crore available under the Odisha Food Processing Policy coupled with benefits under the Kissan Sampada Yojana, intending entrepreneurs can set up food processing industry in two mega food parks developed at Deras for the marine sector, MITS Food Park for the mixed products at Rayagada and other industrial estates.”

 

Gupta further stated that Odisha offers opportunity of investment in primary processing from ‘cleaning & sorting’ to ‘chilling & freezing,’ Secondary processing from ‘making slices & pulps to cut/fried chilled items and Tertiary processing from ‘manufacturing ketchups & jams’ to Ready-to-Eat (RTE) meals.

Delivering the presidential address, MSME Minister Prafulla Samal expressed his satisfaction over successful implementation of the International Trade Fair and holding of four seminars, which have been well attended and well received by the existing as well as budding entrepreneurs.

The Minister added that Odisha being bestowed with natural and agro resources, offers employment opportunities in food processing sector and assured best facilitation to the entrepreneurs.

Senior principal scientist, Head, CFTRI, Mysore R.G. Math made a presentation on newer technologies that could be adopted by the entrepreneurs of Odisha for processing of Ragi, Rusk, Millets, Jackfruit, Tamarind, other fruits and vegetables. Math stressed on adoption of intelligent packaging, which depicts the state of food within the packaging.

CEO, Milk Mantra Srikumar Misra stressed on the need by entrepreneurs to focus on innovation of products based on market demand.

Director Agriculture & Food Production Muthu Kumar highlighted that the government is laying emphasis on clustered growth in the agri business sector and accordingly, efforts are being made to develop clusters of turmeric cultivation, ginger cultivation, chilly and for certain fruits.

Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) President Ramesh Mohapatra said that presently there are 15 aqua hatcheries in the state, the production of which is going to rise to 27 shortly.

On this occasion, UCCI President Ramesh Mohapatra, President, UCCI and Bahador Sadeghi, Deputy International Affairs on behalf of the President, Qazvin Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (QCCIMA), Iran signed an MoU for the purpose of mutual cooperation, improving and expanding trade exchange information and facilitate trade missions between Odisha and Iran.