Ministry of Food Processing Industries is organising the second edition of 'World Food India 2023’ (WFI) from Nov 3-5, 2023, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, for the benefit of Indian food processing industries through collaborations with and investments from global stakeholders. The event is being organised as part of International Year of Millets 2023 activities and will have millets (shree anna), organic produce and indigenous processed food as some of the focus areas.

 

Curtain Raiser Event to WFI 2023 was held recently in National Media Centre, New Delhi, and was attended by wide spectrum of representatives from press & media, various Central Ministries/Departments, State Resident Commissioners & Embassies apart from senior officers of the ministry. During the event, promotional video, publicity brochure and a dedicated website for WFI 2023 was launched by Pashupati Kumar Paras, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, and Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti, Government of India.

 

Addressing the event, Paras emphasised that India is one of the fastest-growing economies with many investment opportunities, especially in the food processing sector. He outlined five pivotal elements of the WFI 2023 as Millets- ‘Shree Anna-The Super Food of India’, Innovation and Sustainability ‘Green Food’, White Revolution 2.0, making India an export hub and focus on technology and digitisation. 'During the three-day event, we expect leading players in the food processing sector from across the globe to showcase their strengths. Industry professionals' meets, exhibitions and Food Street (a specially curated food experience arena) are also planned to explore collaborations and B2B/G contracts. The event will highlight the myriad opportunities, infrastructure available, incentives, and benefits to the investors,' he added.

 

Patel in his address, said, 'With the experience of previous edition of WFI held in 2017, we look forward to WFI-2023 as a flagship global event. We are proud of meeting the food needs of the world. Scientific parameters will help in the further growth of the food processing industry. Various government initiatives including the PLI schemes in the food processing industry will enhance the marketing and branding and the government is proud of standardising the quality parameters.' He added that innovation in the food processing industries has been a key differentiator globally. 'With innovation, we will be one of the strongest economies in the world. Digitalisation has enhanced the quality parameters even in self-help groups and thus improving the sector's competitiveness,' he added.

 

While requesting wide stakeholder participation in the event, Anita Praveen, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, said, 'World Food India 2023, a flagship event of the ministry, is a unique platform for global investors of food companies. We aim to make India an export hub with a major contribution from food processing and allied industries. Our focus is on value addition, processing machinery, packaging technology & material etc. Millets- ‘Shree Anna-The Super Food of India’ is one of the pillars of this event and we aim to capture the global market. There are immense investment opportunities in post-harvest management such as primary processing and storage, preservation infrastructure, cold chain, refrigerated transport and value addition in organic and nutritious foods. WFI 2023 will provide an impetus for the industry's further growth and showcase India's potential in the food processing industry to the world.'

It is a time to leverage friendships and partnerships to solve the many problems that the world is facing today. This was stated by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal at the CII Partnership Summit 2023 in New Delhi today.

 

Elaborating on the theme, the Minister said that in these tough times, when the world has barely come out of COVID, when we are confronted with a conflict which took economies down, which raised inflation and consequently interest rates, which brought deep recession in many parts of the world, meeting like this helps us all to see how we can get the best for each one of us through collective solutions to global challenges and global problems.

 

We are looking for resilient, distributed and stable sources of growth supply chains, he said. We are seeking greater market access with minimizing the exposure to risk that many of our economies are facing, he said, adding that as the honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said, and I quote, it is only partnerships that will get us to our goals.

 

The Minister pointed out that India has set an example for the world. He said that as a responsible global citizen, when we developed the COVID vaccine, we used it not only for our own citizens, who are administered 2.2 billion vaccines free of charge but we also provided vaccines to the less developed countries to the Pacific island nations to Caribbean nations, to small island states to our neighborhood. Over 250 million vaccines were provided, most of them free of charge, to other parts of the world, he added.

 

Speaking on the need to innovate, Shri Goyal said that all of us will have to look at innovative ideas, new ways of doing our work more efficiently, more effectively. Our startup ecosystem reflects that innovative spirit, he said pointing out that India, which barely had three or four unicorns seven years ago, today has over 100 unicorns and India's startup ecosystem is the third largest in the world.

 

The minister said that sustainability is a way of life in India and we don’t need to be taught or to learn from other parts of the world. He pointed out that our green goals are very ambitious and said that Prime Minister Modi introduced the concept of life that is sustainable lifestyles, which is the need of the hour. Because the waste that we are all generating across the world, more particularly in the developed world is a larger cause of this big problem of climate change, than the needs of humanity. Shri Goyal said that as Mahatma Gandhi had said, we in this generation are all trustees and custodians for our children. And it's incumbent on all of us to leave behind a better word than the one we inherited so that our children get a better future.

 

Shri Goyal said that we in India are committed to our sustainable goals and sustainable lifestyle. We are committed to the circular economy. We are committed to eliminating waste or reuse and recycling and I invite all our partner countries to work with India, to learn from India, to partner India in this effort to make the world a better place to live, Shri Goyal said.

 

Shri Goyal spoke on India’s partnership with the world economies. He said we are entering into international agreements with several countries to enable our businesses as we will enable businesses around the world. We will engage deeply with each other so that we can become a larger player on the international global economic front. He said that this effort has been led by Prime Minister Modi literally from the front line. Citing an example, Shri Goyal said that two years ago, our exports of goods and services collectively worth $500 billion dollars. Prime Minister Modi decided that India will convert the crisis of COVID into an opportunity we will not be deterred by the crisis. Prime Minister talked to all the export promotion councils in the country heard them understood the challenges they were facing. He found solutions and spoke to our mission heads across the world. And now as we celebrate 75 years of an independent India, we are marching ahead to cross $750 billion of exports of goods and services.

 

India today offers many competitive advantages over other competing economies, Commerce and Industry Minister said. We are focusing more on high quality of goods as well as leveraging economies of scale, particularly given the large domestic market that we offer to businesses and investors who come and work in India and to our friends in their economic engagement with India, he said.

 

Our MSMEs are first engaging with digitalization and as was mentioned earlier, India is developing its digital promise in the form of digital public goods for the use of the rest of the world. Singapore and India have recently partnered on UPI and we hope to do the same with UAE in the near future. We are expanding rupee trade with several countries, many of which are at an advanced stage of dialogue and finalization.

 

Shri Goyal said that when we talk about financing global economic recovery, a strong and responsive international institutional framework is called for. We need to also see that some non-transparent economies, whose economic systems are totally opaque, enjoy the fruits of multilateral engagement. I think it's time the world called out such countries and made them accountable and transparent.

 

Speaking on technology partnership, Shri Goyal said that when we talk of emerging technologies it's important that we do a skill mapping. We will find certain nations with tremendous skills. We can match that with the skill deficit, yet rich countries which need those skills. That matchmaking is what partnerships are all about, he said. Singapore and India are making a serious effort to do that matchmaking he said.

 

Earlier, the Minister began his speech by complimenting the two Oscar winners from India. He said that we are a proud nation today for winning two Oscars. The Elephant Whisperers highlights sustainable development and harmony with nature. But it also gives us a sense of women's development in India, with both the director and producers being women.

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said that India’s goods and services exports will cross $750 billion in the financial year 2022-23, and that country is expanding rupee trade with several countries, many of which are at an advanced stage of dialogue and finalisation.

 

'Last year, we grew to $676 billion, a massive jump and an all-time record for India, and we are inching close and marching ahead to cross $750 billion of goods and services exports in 2022-23,' Goyal said, at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit 2023. In 2021, India’s goods and services exports were $500 billion.

 

Goyal also said that India is offering its digital prowess in the form of digital public goods for use by the rest of the world.

 

'Singapore and India have recently partnered on UPI and we hope to do the same with the UAE in the near future', he said. UPI is Unified Payments Interface.

 

'We are expanding rupee trade with several countries, many of which are at an advanced stage of dialogue and finalisation,' Goyal said.

 

On the issue of building resilient and global value chains, the minister said that the world must collectively address the challenges of tariff and non-tariff barriers.

 

'There are so many non-tariff barriers and as countries create them, others are tempted to follow suit. It is imperative that nations must address these in a mission mode,' he said.

 

Goyal also pushed for a strong and responsive international institutional framework on the issue of financing global recovery.

 

'A strong and responsive international institutional framework is called for within which we must reform several multilateral organisations and trading arrangements that have, over the years, led some non-transparent economies whose economic systems are totally opaque- to enjoy the fruits of multilateral engagements,' he said.

 

As per Goyal, 'it is time the world called out such countries and made them accountable and transparent'.

 

On emerging technologies, he suggested world skill mapping to find certain nations with skills to be matched with the rich countries which need those skills.

 

'Singapore and India are making serious efforts to do that matchmaking. UAE and India have been doing that…With Australia, we are working on such mobility and migration partnerships,' he said.

 

Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, Canada said: 'Last year, our trade was nearly $21 billion and we will do better. Canada’s portfolio investment in India has reached $70 billion.'

 

She said that Canada’s indo-pacific strategy is 'most ambitious and consequential' and said the two sides are working on a trade agreement that is meaningful and that would make trade seamless and help develop supply chain links, create partnerships in the digital economy in clean tech, agri tech, health tech, and creating solutions for the future in climate change and food security.

 

'The recent pandemic and geopolitics has caused pain and panic in many ways to developing and small economies like ours. A country like mine looks forward to getting support and understanding towards diversification of import and export markets, raw materials, financing and domestic productive capacities,' said Lyonpo Loknath Sharma, Minister of Energy & Natural Resources, Industry, Commerce and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan.

 

Sharma also said that ICT allows LDCs with limited products and capacities to be drivers of suppliers in the global economy and not mere consumers.

 

'Landlocked countries must use ICT and avoid being digitally locked. We were geographically locked, let's not be digitally locked,' he said.

India will continue to pursue its application for an exclusive Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its basmati rice in the European Union (EU) and not consider any other solution as it could affect the exclusivity of the fragrant rice in other markets, official sources have said. 

 

According to traders and experts, the EU is probably trying to 'browbeat India (from its firm stand) in its trade talks to gain access to its wines and whiskey'. 

 

The development comes on the heels of the EU trying to put pressure on India to amend its application by including the basmati-growing areas in Pakistan or submit a new joint application along with Pakistan. The issue of the GI tag for Indian basmati rice has been pending since July 2018.

 

Pak map with Jammu

'India should and cannot accept the EU’s proposal. In August 2020, after the abrogation of Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan published a map showing Jammu as part of its territory.

 

'When a joint application is made, the map of both countries will have to be included. This will mean India accepting Jammu to be part of Pakistan. This is untenable,' said S Chandrasekaran, a GI expert who has written the book 'Basmati Rice: The Natural History Geographical Indication'. 

 

The Ministry of External Affairs, which was consulted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has suggested to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Agency (APEDA) to solely pursue the application for GI tag.

 

APEDA, which is the nodal agency to get GI tag for Indian products, has been told not to consider other options such as submission of an amended application by including Basmati producing areas of Pakistan or submission of a fresh joint application with Pakistan.

 

12 objections filed

'Pakistan is yet to come up with any definition of basmati. It has no physical standard and has not notified the DNA standard. India made all these in 2003 and the Food Safety Standards Authority of India has come up with the domestic standard for basmati,' said Chandrasekaran.

 

When contacted, APEDA Chairman M Angamuthu said 12 objections, including two from Pakistan, were lodged against India’s application for a GI tag to basmati in the EU.  

 

'The legal representatives of APEDA have been asked to engage with the legal representatives of those who objected to India’s GI tag application as required under EU regulations. Discussions are strictly at the level of representation and no APEDA or government functionary is involved,' he said. 

 

'Since the consultations and informal discussions period with those opposed to our application have ended, our legal associate has submitted reports to the European Commission. The EU is now seized of the matter,' he said.

 

‘EU feeling obliged’

Official sources said the EC is 'feeling obliged to protect basmati originating from Pakistan (as well as India) and it prefers a single registration for the 'Basmati' name 'to respect the rights of both origins'.

 

'Why is the EU going the extra mile to support Pakistan, when it has to uphold the pillars of authenticity and quality standards? Looks like the EU is trying to manipulate without understanding the fact that India is sitting in an advantageous position,' he said. 

 

Between 2001 and now, India’s basmati exports to the EU increased from 100,000 tonnes to 400,000 tonnes before slipping to 150,000 tonnes. 

 

'During the same time, total basmati exports from the country increased from one million tonnes (mt) to 4.5 mt with demand for West Asia outstripping that of the EU. Also, the UK, which makes up 50 per cent of demand for Indian basmati had come out of the EU,' the expert said. 

 

Also, with the issue of fungicide tricyclazole residue in rice consignments blowing over, the EU has no grounds to negotiate, he said. 

 

Single document hope

'Is the EU trying to infuse oxygen into Pakistan basmati whose shipments are down 35 per cent this fiscal?' Chandrasekaran wondered.  

 

Angamuthu said the European Commission has received details of Pakistan-growing areas and is expected to ask Pakistan to demonstrate that the growing areas satisfy the environmental factors of the single document as presented by India in its GI application. 

 

Official sources said the Commission is hoping to draw a single document with its officials sitting along with Indian and Pakistani officials. 'Such a development could affect APEDA’s applications pending in other countries since the Intellectual Property offices there might object or Pakistan itself may launch objections. 

 

However, Angamuthu said APEDA had initiated over 1,000 proceedings including oppositions and cancellations in over 40 countries across five continents to protect the name 'Basmati'. It successfully prevented several instances of misappropriation including names such as 'Basnati' 'Kasmati', 'Texmati', 'Tasmati', 'Jasmati, 'Basma', etc.

 

Forcing surrender

'APEDA forced a substantial surrender of several claims of a patent taken out in the US which sought to confer a monopoly on the RiceTec Inc, a US Company, for the growing, producing and marketing of rice grains that would have exposed exports of basmati from India to the US to claims of patent infringement in that country.

 

So far, India has got a Geographical Indication tag for Basmati in four countries and certification marks for Basmati in seven countries, including the UK and China.

 

'Application for GI, certification marks and logo have been filed in over 20 foreign jurisdictions to register Basmati. Major foreign jurisdictions where India’s applications for these are under various stages of processes include the EU, the US, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, etc,' the APEDA Chairman said.

 

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has said that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is the largest and most comprehensive research institute in the world. The progress made by the institute so far is commendable. Be it achieving production targets, increasing productivity or meeting the challenge of producing climate-resilient crops, our agricultural scientists have played a vital role in every field. Consolidating upon the traditional farming since ancient times, along with the hard work of farmers, the research of scientists has proved to be a milestone in the progress witnessed in the agriculture sector. So far this journey has been satisfactory, but it is our aim to overcome the challenges during the Amrit Kaal to bring the country in the comity of developed nation by the year 2047.

 

Union Minister Shri Tomar said this while addressing the 94th Annual General Meeting of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Society. He said that India's supremacy in the Agriculture sector is increasing all over the world, along with this the expectations from us are also rising. The target is to build a New India by 2047. New India needs new science, research, new skills and innovation because tomorrow belongs to New India. For this, the Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is working on the basis of new principles. ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’ is our main mantra, without leaving anyone behind, keep marching towards the goal. Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had given the slogan – ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’. The then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee added ‘Vigyan’ to this slogan and our current Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has also added ‘Anusandhan’ to it. It has become a mantra for us – ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan and Jai Anusandhan’.

 

Shri Tomar said that the overall and balanced development of the country is being taken forward. When it comes to overall development, the Agriculture sector is like the backbone of the country. It is our responsibility to develop it. Various challenges like Climate Change are before us today. We are also facing the challenge of damage caused to the standing crops of the farmers due to natural disasters. In New India, we have to reach out to all the farmers with new technology and research. The income of the farmers has to be raised, prosperity has to be brought to their homes and the villages and the Agriculture sector has to be made prosperous, all of which has to be accomplished jointly.

 

The Union Agriculture Minister said that Rs. 4 lakh crore worth of agricultural exports has been achieved, which is the highest ever. In the coming times, our products of Natural and Organic Farming are going to become more popular in the world. There is a need to work with the belief that our exports will increase further in the future. Along with this, our concern has to be to ensure the quality of the production meets the global benchmark. The government's emphasis is on Natural Farming. Prime Minister Shri Modi urges that we should promote Natural Farming i.e. cow based farming. Let the focus be on ‘waste to wealth’. We should strive to improve the quality and hygiene of our products. The Agriculture Minister said that the year 2023 has been declared as the International Year of Millets (Shree Anna). The Prime Minister is going to formally launch the programme on 18th March. The International Year of Millets is not just an event but a big project to increase the production, productivity and market of Shree Anna. The consumption and popularity of Shree Anna is also increasing through the programs being organized across the country. With the popularity of Shree Anna gaining across the world, when the consumption will increase, then the responsibility of supplying it will also rest with India since we are the largest producer of Shree Anna. Scientists need to pay attention to this aspect too.

 

In his address, the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala praised the commendable effort put forth by ICAR in developing indigenous vaccine Lumpi-ProVac for defence against the Lumpy Skin Disease afflicting a large cattle population in the country. 

 

Speaking on the occasion, Member, NITI Aayog Shri Ramesh Chand expressed satisfaction that our foodgrains production growth rate is faster than the country’s population growth rate and that the momentum should accelerate. He called upon the ICAR to focus its efforts on the 12 crops witnessing declining production over the years, including Cotton that supports the Textiles Industry also, besides Soyabean, Tur & Urad pulses and Oilseeds particularly Safflower. Pointing out that the consumption of Millets per person has declined from 24% to 6% over the years, Dr. Ramesh Chand said we must ensure Millets remains the staple diet of the poor since it is rich in iron and prevents anemia. 

 

Presenting a detailed report on the achievements of ICAR during the FY 2022-23, Director General of ICAR and Secretary, DARE Dr. Himanshu Pathak said the ICAR released 323 varieties of field crops, including 266 climate resistant variants. A number of vaccines were developed by the ICAR Institutes including the H9N2 Influenza Vaccine for Chickens and vaccine for prevention of SARS-CoV2 infection in animals, he said.

 

Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Kailash Choudhary (through video conference), Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Shri Surya Pratap Shahi, Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Shri Abdul Sattar, Himachal Pradesh Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Shri Chander Kumar, Secretary, ICAR Shri Sanjay Garg and other members and senior officers were present. On this occasion, Union Minister Shri Tomar also released some publications. During the AGM, some members also presented their suggestions.

The organization 'Right To Protein' has also expressed its support for the initiative. The conference will bring together plant-protein enthusiasts and industry leaders to discuss the importance of India becoming a 'Ingredients Hub' for plant-based foods and creating an ecosystem that supports the growth of the plant-based food industry.

 

Technical discussions on flavour and texture, as well as the role of plant-based dairy innovations, will be held at the event. Dr. Sudhanshu, Secretary of APEDA; Sanoj Jha, Addl. Secretary of MoFPI; Pradeep Singh Kharola, Chairman & Managing Director of ITPO; VK Vidyarthi, General Manager of APEDA; Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General of Ph.D. Chamber; Gaurav Marya, President of Franchise India; Nitin Verma, Counsellor Agriculture of High Commission of Canada in India; and Ramkumar PS, Regional Commercial Director are among the keynote speakers.

 

'The goal is to cultivate, develop, and mainstream the plant-based foods industry and to assist India in achieving the Net Zero Carbon Emissions goal by 2070, moving closer to the Sustainable Development Goals,' said Sanjay Sethi, Executive Director of PBFIA. The 'Dawn of a Plant-Based Age' conference is an important step towards collectively driving initiatives for food and nutritional security. We are thrilled to receive strong support from many industry leaders and initiatives and collaborators, including the health awareness initiative 'Right To Protein'. I encourage both industry and citizens to participate in this critical conversation and contribute to a more sustainable future for all.'

 

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) present the conference, which is co-organized by Plant Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA) and PHD Chamber. The conference is supported by Franchise India and powered by US-SOY, with Ernst & Young as Knowledge Partners, Brenntag as the Principal Sponsor, and ‘Right To Protein’ as a Sponsor. The conference also serves as a warm-up for the upcoming global Soy Month celebrations in April, which aim to eliminate protein deficiency by educating and emphasising the role of soy as a complete protein source.

 

The Plant Based Foods Industry Association was founded in 2009. Plant Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA) is an apex, CEO-led body that has 100 members in its first year of existence. PBFIA promotes the development of a robust ecosystem for the plant-based foods industry in India through strategic collaborations, the formation of stakeholder networks, the facilitation of research to improve the sector's capabilities, and the advocacy for positive policymaking and the dissemination of key trends and information in the interests of its members.

 

'Right To Protein' is a public health awareness initiative that aims to educate citizens on the importance of adequate protein consumption for better nutrition, health, and well-being. The #RightToProtein initiative aims to increase knowledge of various protein sources, both animal and plant protein-based, in order to meet larger nutritional goals.

India and Australia have agreed to conclude the negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement 'as soon as possible' as there is huge potential to enhance bilateral commerce in the next five years, according to a joint statement issued on Sunday. The statement was released after the meeting of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Australia's Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell on March 11.

 

Both countries have already implemented an economic cooperation and trade agreement (ECTA) in December 2022 and are now negotiating to widen the scope of that pact into a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA).

 

'Ministers look forward to concluding CECA as soon as possible,' the statement said.

 

The CECA will create new employment opportunities, raise living standards and improve the general welfare in both countries, it added.

 

The ministers also highlighted the importance of a smooth and timely clean energy transition as both countries work towards achieving their respective net zero goals.

 

'India-Australia bilateral trade exceeded USD 31 billion last financial year. Both agreed that given the trade complementarities between the two countries, there is considerable potential for significantly enhancing bilateral trade within the next 5 years,' the statement said.

Under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Centers of Excellence (CoEs) are being established in various States through Bilateral Cooperation or Research Institutes. These CoEs serve as demonstration and training centres for latest technologies in the field of horticulture. These CoEs also serve as source of planting material for fruits and vegetable seedlings for protected cultivation and usedfor transfer of technology and knowhow in diverse areas, viz., Post-Harvest management, Irrigation and Fertigation, Plant protection, Introduction of New Varieties, Pollination etc.

 

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has approved 49 CoEs till now, out of which following 3 CoEs have been approved on 09-03-2023:

 

(i)   CoE for Kamlam (Dragon Fruit) by Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, Karnataka at Experimental station, Hirehalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka.

 

(ii)    CoE for Mango and Vegetables under Indo-Israel Action Plan at Panikoili, Jajpur District, Odisha.

 

(iii)   CoE for Vegetables and Flowers under Indo-Israel Action Plan at Govt. Agricultural Farm, Codar, Khandepar, Ponda, South Goa, Goa.

 

CoE for Kamlam (Dragon Fruit) at Bengaluru, Karnataka: The vision of this Centre is to develop latest production technology as per the international standard & off-season production and demonstration of these technologies for high yield production. The Centre will aim to achieve self-sustenance in Kamlam fruit production, value addition and enhancing economic development of the farming community.

 

The Centre will focus to develop high performance variety with improved yield, nutrient use efficiency, nutritional quality, tolerance against biotic & abiotic stresses, Standardization of propagation techniques, distribution of quality planting material through public participatory approach, development of protocol for post-harvesting handling and storage to reduce post-harvest losses and promote export to distant markets, development of value-added products and processes for product diversification & higher revenue realization, dissemination of developed technologies to the farmers & other stakeholders through training, field visits, etc.

 

CoE for Mango and Vegetables at Jajpur, Odisha: The vision of Centre is to generate knowledge in nursery management, cultivation practices, production of high quality & large quantity of planting material of mango and vegetable crops. The Centre will also focus on demonstration of new varieties, Israeli Agro technology in irrigation, fertigation & Plant protection technologies along with precision Agriculture and post-harvest management technology. The Centre will prepare a training model based on the focused areas such as irrigation, fertigation, nursery, canopy & value chain for the benefit of farmers.

 

CoE for Vegetables and Flowers at Ponda, Goa: The Centre will focus on demonstration of Hi-tech nursery management system with advanced production technology through automated irrigation and fertigation system for production of disease-free and healthy vegetable seedlings of improved varieties of vegetables and flowers suitable for Goa. The Centre will also strengthen infrastructure for promotion of pre & post-harvest management of quality produce and develop protocols/guidelines tailored to the local conditions in the CoE & farmer’s field as well.

The second edition of 'World Food India-2023’ will be organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, from 3-5 November, 2023 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The Curtain Raiser Event to WFI-2023 was held today in National Media Centre, New Delhi. During the event, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Shri Pashupati Kumar Paras, and Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, launched the website, publicity brochure and promotional video for WFI-2023.

 

Addressing the Curtain Raiser event, Shri Pashupati Kumar Paras emphasised that India is one of the fastest-growing economies with many investment opportunities, especially in the food processing sector. He outlined five pivotal elements of the WFI-2023 as Millets- ‘Shree Anna-The Super Food of India’, Innovation and Sustainability ‘Green Food’, White Revolution 2.0, making India an export hub and focus on technology and digitisation.

 

Shri Paras said that during the three-day event, the government expects leading players in the food processing sector from across the globe to showcase their strengths.

 

Shri Paras added that industry professionals' meets, exhibitions and Food Street - a specially curated food experience arena, are also planned to explore collaborations and B2B/G contracts. He said that the event will highlight the myriad opportunities, infrastructure available, incentives, and benefits to the investors.

 

Shri Prahlad Singh Patel said that with the experience of previous edition of WFI-2017, the government is looking forward to WFI-2023 as a flagship global event. He said that India is proud of meeting the food needs of the world and the scientific parameters will help in the further growth of the food processing industry. He said that the various government initiatives including the PLI schemes in the food processing industry are enhancing the marketing and branding and the government is proud of the standardising the quality parameters.

 

Shri Patel emphasised that innovation in the food processing industry is a key differentiator globally, and will help India emerge as one of the strongest economies in the world. He added that digitalisation has enhanced the quality parameters even at self-help groups level, and thus improved the sector's competitiveness.

 

While requesting wide stakeholder participation in the event, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries Ms Anita Praveen, said that World Food India-2023, a flagship event of the Ministry, is a unique platform for global investors of food companies. She said that the Ministry aims to make India an export hub with a major contribution from food processing and allied industries. She added that the focus of the Ministry is on value addition, processing machinery, packaging technology & material etc. She said that Millets- ‘Shree Anna-The Super Food of India’ is one of the pillars of this event and there are immense investment opportunities in post-harvest management such as primary processing and storage, preservation infrastructure, cold chain, refrigerated transport and value addition in organic and nutritious foods. She emphasised that WFI-2023 will provide an impetus for the industry's further growth and showcase India's potential in the food processing industry to the world.

 

Vice President, FICCI Shri Harsha V Agarwal, and Secretary General, FICCI, Shri Shailesh K Pathak, provided outline of the preparations made in ensuring success of the event and brief of the arrangements at the venue for facilitating exhibitions, B2B, B2G & G2G meetings and collaborations. Being organized as part of International Year of Millets 2023 activities, WFI-2023 will have Millets (Shree Anna), organic produce & indigenous processed food as some of the focus areas, and will be held through collaborations with and investments from global stakeholders. The event was attended by wide spectrum of representatives from Press & Media, various Central Ministries/Departments, State Resident Commissioners & Embassies apart from senior officers of the Ministry.

Farmers were told to take up cultivation of market driven crop varieties in order to enhance their income at a workshop on food processing and business opportunities at Thanjavur on Thursday.

 

Inaugurating the workshop jointly organised by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management – Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T) and Ponni Arakattalai, Thanjavur, the vice-chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, V. Geethalakshmi exhorted the delta farmers to consider cultivation of crops addressing the issues of nutritional security.

 

Stating that the cultivation of market-driven crops of high demand would enhance the income of farmers, Dr.Geethalakshmi suggested the farmers to switch over to the cultivation of traditional paddy varieties having essential minerals and low glycaemic index.

 

Addressing the participants, APEDA chairman M. Angamuthu assured all possible support for the promotion of Thanjavur delta districts-based agro products through APEDA.

 

The General Manager, APEDA, Southern Region, Ravindra said organic certification would help tap the global market for traditional horticultural products successfully.

 

Wide-ranging opportunities for the micro food enterprises were explained in detail by the chief executive officer, PM-FME scheme of SASTRA University, Panjapakesan, according to a NIFTEM-T release.