A national workshop on packaging of fresh and processed foods for cottage, micro, medium and small entrepreneurs is slated to be inaugurated by the State Horticulture and Food Processing Minister Harak Singh Rawat in Dehradun on Friday. The national workshop is being organised by the Indian Institute of Packaging under the sponsorship of Ministry of Food Processing Industries in association with the State Horticulture and Food Processing Department and the Industries Association of Uttarakhand.
According to the event organisers, with globalisation and opening up of the economy creating business opportunities for technology and equipment suppliers, product manufacturers, R&D organisations, logistics and service providers, the total value of the food processing industry is expected to reach $194 billion by 2016 from present value of $121billion. The export of processed food is expected to outreach its present value of $43 billion. Uttarakhand has a rich biodiversity, including valuable medicinal and aromatic plants. Containing almost all major climatic zones, Uttarakhand is amenable to a variety of commercial opportunities in horticulture, floriculture and agriculture. The food processing industry is stated to be poised for robust growth in the State.
In Uttarakhand four Agri Export Zones (AEZs) have already been declared under the AEZ scheme of Government of India for litchi, floriculture, herbs and medicinal plants and basmati rice. A mega food park has been set up at Haridwar under Mega Food Parks Scheme of Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI). Another mega food park project has been granted final approval by MoFPI in Udham Singh Nagar district. leading players in food processing industry like Nestle, Britannia, Dabur and ITC have set up their processing facilities in Uttarakhand. Considering this and that about 30 per cent of India’s fresh fruits are lost due to improper harvesting, lack of storage facility, mishandling, transit loss, improper and unscientific packaging, various steps are being taken for processing of fresh produce of fruits and reduce loss.
Packaging also plays a vital role in increasing the shelf life of processed fruits and its storage and handling system.
Better packaging results in protection and safe transportation of products, reduces loss and damage, wastage of products and produce. It enhances product value and also helps to expand markets within and outside country while also contributing to environmental protection.
Apart from Harak Singh Rawat, director of the Indian Institute of Packaging, Prof NC Saha, MoFPI joint secretary Parag Gupta, institute faculty members and experts from various packaging fields are also slated to address the gathering during valedictory session.