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Is India's food sector really Independent?
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Monday, 17 August, 2009, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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As India celebrated its Independence on Saturday, Food and Beverage News popped up a question to the eminent personalities in the food sector whether has India truly become self dependent when it comes to food security and safety?
Here's what the thinkers have to say-
India is bestowed with agro-climatic diversity conducive to produce a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and algae. Before the industry goes ahead to approve the safety of the product for consumption from the certified food labs, it will need to record the production processes and be able to recall every detail of the product from raw material to the batch number of the final product. Only stringent food safety management systems will help companies manage safety risks.
Dr, V Prakash, director, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, India
India has made great strides in both security and safety but it still has a long way to go. Our food production has been highest in many spheres but if you see our per capita consumption of essential nutrients it tells you we have still to achieve many things. In case of safety, even though our food products are much safer today than ever before, there are some areas where we need to strengthen further. Food Safety & Standards Act has focused on safety, whereas previously Prevention of food Adulteration Act (PFA) had focused only on adulteration. This is very good and we will now think of products that are safe besides being of high quality.
Dr JS Pai, executive director of Protein Foods and Nutrition Development Association of India (PFNDAI)
In terms of food safety we have partially achieved our target but in terms of security, we need to increase the irrigation areas. Around 40% of the country's agricultural land is irrigated which needs to be bought up to 60%.
Areas where farmers' suicide cases are common like Marathwada and Vidarbha were initially the assured rainfall zone but they have fallen in the rain scarcity zone in last 5-6 years. Hence it is important that whatever water we receive through precipitation needs to be stored. The project of connecting rivers needs to be revamped, only then India can become the food bowl of the world.
Also that India has ample food but it is mismanaged, there is no planning for supply, hence a wide section of society does not receive its supply. Input supply agency and information collection need to be done at village level and farmers and stake holders in agriculture need to be educated about processing technology, infrastructure etc. When India's more than 30 per cent population is thriving under poverty, agricultural development can be the only rescuer, as over 60 per cent of India's population depends on it.
Appa Saheb Bhujbal, ex director, Agriculture Department and President of Maharashtra Lime Grower's Association.
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