|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
MoFPI keen to support Karnataka food industry with dedicated and modern food test lab
|
|
Thursday, 29 April, 2010, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Our Bureau, Bangalore
|
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is keen to set up a food test lab in Bangalore to speed up the results required for exports.
“We are willing to set up a food test lab of global standards in Bangalore. The food industry in the state can come out with details of the infrastructure availability,” said Ajit Kumar, joint secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, at an interactive session with food sector officials in Bangalore at the behest of the BCIC (Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce).
Currently the Karnataka food industry needs to send the samples for export to the Central Food Technology Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, which takes time. In order to speed up the process and to make the food industry vibrant, an advanced food lab was mandatory, he said.
While no details of investment were disclosed, Kumar said a built-up area of 3,000 sq. ft was needed. One of the locations to set up the lab was the University of Agricultural Sciences. There were also suggestions by the food industry on land available at Yelahanka, close to the Bangalore International Airport. This would allow the food sector to have better proximity for exports.
The setting up of the lab would be overseen by the Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology, Thanjavur, which is a research and development centre set up under the aegis of the MoFPI.
Dr. Vasant Kumar, additional secretary, Department of Food Processing and Harvest Technology, said that state food industry also took the opportunity to highlight the paucity of human resources, and the poor infrastructure in the state.
He said that despite the presence of 10 agro climatic zones in the state which enables cultivation of food grains and horticulture crops, the food sector had not taken off. Karnataka also pioneered the
concept of Food Parks. Of the 6 sanctioned food parks at Malur, Hiriyur in Chitradurga, Jewargi in Gulbarga, Bagalkot, Mysore and Bangalore, only two at Hiriyur in Chitradurga and Jewargi in Gulbarga were ready to take off.
There need to be speedy financial assistance from the Centre as the food parks were on a standstill mode for a while. According to the joint secretary, MoFPI, the reason for a slow decision on the food parks was the inadequate response from the state government, but now with the positive progress of the food parks, efforts would be made to increase the momentum for assistance.
Other issues put forth were on hike in subsidy and need for guidelines on contract farming.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|