India needs to focus on upgrading its technologies in food processing to international standards to raise its volume of exports in agricultural and processed food products, said Asit Tripathy, chairman, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
“Of late, the processed groundnuts exported from India have received 45 alerts from the European Union which has pointed out to the presence of a fungus called Aflatoxin in the product. This calls for adoption of better technologies and greater awareness on international food standards among the food processing units in India”, he added.
Tripathy was speaking at a workshop on Food Production, Processing, Marketing and Export of Agri-Horticultural Produce, organised by the Agriculture Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Limited.
He pointed out that currently APEDA was focusing on boosting exports of groundnuts, non-basmati rice and a host of certified organic food products from the country. India exported around Rs 30,000 crore worth of agricultural and processed food items in 2007-08 and the export figure is set to grow by about 10 per cent in 2008-09.
Speaking on the occasion, Sourav Garg, secretary, industries department, Orissa government said, “The emphasis needs to be on the food processing industry if we want a balanced industrial growth in the state. The local entrepreneurs need to come forward with suggestions which can be included in the Industrial Policy Resolution of the state to facilitate growth of the food processing industry.”
UP Singh, agriculture secretary, Orissa government, said, “About 70 per cent of the population in Orissa is dependent on agriculture for livelihood. The focus should be on raising agricultural productivity and ensuring that the farmers in the state realize a better price for their produce.”
