Andhra Pradesh

‘Food processing can fetch a fortune’

Staff Reporter

Concern expressed over huge wastage of horticulture produce at ’Industry-farmer’ meet

A piece of advice: Ramachandra N. Galla, chairman, Amara Raja Group of Companies, speaking at the ‘Industry-farmer meet’ organised by the CII in Tirupati on Saturday.

TIRUPATI: Ramachandra N. Galla, chairman, Amara Raja Group of Companies, has expressed concern over the wastage of horticultural yield to the tune of 30 per cent during transit from garden to the dining table and wanted scientists and process engineers to find ways and means to increase their shelf life period.

Delivering the keynote address at the ‘Industry – farmers’ meet on exploring business opportunities’, organised by the State unit of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Saturday, Mr. Galla said that the scientific fraternity should make India-specific suggestions to farmers on pesticide usage, as administering lesser levels could expose the crop to pests while a higher level would make the produce toxic and unsuitable for export.

While farmers were dumping their yield on the road for want of a remunerative price or even dropping their harvest plan to save on labour costs, an unforeseen demand was present for the same crop in another part of the country, he lamented and stressed the need for proper packaging and transportation to fill the gap.

“Volume-wise, we are among the largest producers of fruits and vegetables, but value-wise we are at the rock-bottom. Proper linkage in the form of backhouses, packaging and transportation can work wonders for our farmers.” He advised big farmers and bulk traders (mandis) to think beyond domestic supply and study the prospects of food processing.

Mr. Galla, who recently made a foray into the fruit pulp industry with his ‘Galla Foods’, explained how processing could make the mango-rich Chittoor district a haven for horticulturists and almost eliminate wastage. He hoped that the entry of private corporate players into the farm sector would be a win-win situation for both -- the farmer and the industry.

Pradeep Dhobale, Chairman, CII, gave a presentation on CII’s Initiatives wherein he mentioned the steps taken for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). He also explained how the ‘Rural Business Hub’, the novel idea of empowering panchayats, conceived on the basis of a Thai success story, was implemented on a pilot basis in Machilipatnam.

Under this, 2,500 youths had been identified and their skills fine-tuned in motor-winding, automobile, carpentry, beauty therapy, etc. Vice-chairman Utpal Sen Gupta said that the CII was considering carving out a zone with Tirupati.

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