iift - IIFT Organizes Workshop on Helping Indian Food Processors Meet Competitive Export Standards

IIFT-Delhi organized a workshop focusing on helping Indian Food Processors meet competitive export standards at its campus today. The workshop was conducted successfully with the support of Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India, and Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, Honourable Union Minister for Food Processing Industry, was the guest of honour and delivered the key address.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. K. T. Chacko, Director, IIFT, said, "The export of processed food products is much below the potential today. One of the important factors for this state of affairs is the limited access and availability of appropriate technologies and technological support services and facilities to the producers, especially micro units, besides several other factors." He further added, "IIFT has initiated several programmes related to information and management skills for managers and entrepreneurs especially in the SMEs in this sector including a dedicated SME centre set-up at our institute."

Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Food Processing, said, "As per the 11th plan, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing various schemes to encourage investment in the food processing sector for the development of the sector." He further added, "The deliberations and recommendations of this workshop organized by IIFT would go a long way in the overall development and growth of the food processing sector."

Indian food processing industry is dominated by micro-small and informal enterprises, some medium level and a few large enterprises, for manufacturing a large variety of food products and ready-to-eat foods, with varying tastes and qualities. However, the challenges in production, food preservation, distribution and processing sectors, and so on are diverse and demanding, and need to be addressed in several fronts to derive maximum market benefits in domestic and export requirements.

Source: coolavenues.com