2 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
3 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
4 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
5 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
6 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
7 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
CONTENTS
52
360 soil testing labs to be operational in 2016-17
53
The power of prebiotics Taste and explore BENEO’s dietary fibres from nature for a healthy digestive system
54
AFSTI spreads awareness on new FSSAI Draft Notifications & Amendments
54
Above 68% of milk in India does stand by FSSAI standards
55
Govt covers 68 crore natives for subsidized foodgrains under NFSA: Ram Vilas Paswan
55
Govt to create buffer stock of pulses to stabilise prices
56
100% FDI decision in food processing sector will play a big role in doubling farmers’ income by 2022: Harsimrat Kaur Badal
57
BAKERS TECHNOLOGY FAIR 2016
57
9
Gits brings new range of desserts for GudiPadwa
35
Analytical Study On Multibrand Retail Post 100 Per Cent FDI 16
BANNING 37 THE USE OF PLASTICS IN FOOD INDUSTRY Turmeric the golden spice
26
48
Amazing story of India's most successful brandAMUL 32
Why India must rely on local food stocks VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
Wheat scenario today a big leap forward
Does India Need Transgenic Mustard?
8 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
P EDITOR Manzar Aftab Naqvi CONSULTING EDITOR Basma Hussain GROUP EDITOR Firoz H. Naqvi firoz@advanceinfomedia.com Graphic Designer Naved H. Kazmi naved@advanceinfomedia.com Circulation Seema hayat Shaikh Seema@advenceiifomedia.com Delhi Sayyed Shahnawaz +91-8375034558 Gujarat Brijesh Mathuria +91-9924546999 Genreal Manager Gyanendra Trivedi Marketing & Circulation Office 121,1st floor, Rassaz Multiplex, Station Road, Mira Road (E), Dist. Thane- 401107 Telefax : +91-22-28555069, Tell.: +91-22-28115068 Mob.: +91-9867992299 E-mail: info@agronfoodprocessing.com sub@advanceinfomedia.com Vol 11 Issue 06 April 2016 Annual Subcription Rs.950/By Normal Post Add Rs. 400/-For Courier Charges Add Rs. 50/- For Outstantion Charge Overseas $80 By Air Mail Email:sub@advanveinfomedia.com Single Copy Cost Rs. 100/Printed, Published & Owned By Manzar Aftab Naqvi RNI No. MAHENG /2005/15987 Postal Regd. No. THW /50/2014-2016 WPP License No. MR /TECH /WPP-308/TW /2016 Regd. Office Adcanveinfomedia & Event 103,AmarJyot Apartments, Pooja Nagar, Mira Road (E) Dist Thane-401107(Mumbai) Printed At Rolleract Press Services A-83,Ground Floor, Naraina Industrial Area Phase-1, New Delhi -110028 The views expressed in this issue are those of the contibutors are not necessarilly those of the magzine. though every care has been taken to ensure the accuaracy and authenticty in infomation, "Oil & Food Journal" is however not responsible fordamages caused by ministerpretation of infomation expressed and implied with in the pages of this issue. All disputes are not to be referred to Mumbai Jurisdiction
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
EDITORIAL
erhaps more than any other, the food industry is very sensitive to consumer demand’’ I truly believe in this quotation as being a member of this rising industry I know how subtle is the organised food processing industry towards its consumer. That is why food safety is a big concern here and Nestle got webbed in it for the second time, after the 2015 Maggi noodles controversy. But this time the Swiss giant cleared all the safety tests directed by the Supreme Court (SC) and the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC). All tests conducted on 29 samples of the instant noodles brand failed to find any excess lead or artificial monosodium glutamate (MSG) in it and every single sample was found compliant. In January, Supreme Court ordered laboratory testing of 16 Maggi samples, in addition to 13 collected by government authorities earlier. An NCDRC bench had ordered retest of Maggi collected from nine batches at the National Accreditation Board for testing and Calibration Laboratories-accredited CFTRI in Mysore. While NCDRC-directed tests were to determine presence and levels of lead and MSG in Maggi, those ordered by the SC were to determine the level of many other parameters like metal contaminants, crop contaminants and other hazardous substances, including lead and MSG. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the minister of food processing industries, had publicly expressed concern that the whole episode might hurt the government’s business-friendly image. Also keep on the tracks of food safety…….Fssai has now made it mandatory that any e-commerce player selling food products or dealing in food business will have to get registered it. The food regulator said that without registration it would be "illegal" for these companies to deal in food products or food business and "an appropriate action as per the Food Safety and Standards law could also be explored" for violation. By following the regulations of the food safety act, the e-commerce players can ensure the quality of food products or even services to their consumers. And which will help these companies also. Hmmm… I have always maintained that the food processing industry of India is that platform that will create an international niche for India, and I have not been wrong as Indian companies like Amul, Mother Dairy, Britannia are now dominating MNCs like Nestle, Mondelez & PepsiCo. According to Euromonitor, Amul, Mother Dairy, Britannia, Ruchi Soya and Parle Products dominated the country's packaged foods sector in 2015 even as Swiss giant Nestle slipped five places to seventh in overall ranking. Today the Indian packaged foods market stands at Rs 2,572 a 15% rise from Rs 2,232 billion in 2014. Mondelez, Nestle and PepsiCo — are the only multinationals that have figured in the top 10 players by market share across packaged foods as domestic firms increased distribution and has penetrated into rural India and launched smaller packs at lower price points. Domestic manufacturers have understood the competition level and are also increasing their product portfolios and shares, by retail sales value, captures data which include sale of fresh, packaged and prepared foods for home preparation and consumption. Responsiveness to changing consumer mindsets and focus on local tastes and flavours is what is helping Indian food industry us drive top. Likewise effective from July, the government has revised norms to make it compulsory for packaged food manufacturing firms to display retail price and quantity among other six details more conspicuously in at least 40 per cent of the packet area. Packaged commodities rules have been amended by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. Six mandatory information shall have to be displayed more prominently at least at the 40 per cent area of the packet, except top and bottom, so that these are easily readable by consumers and the Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has discussed the issue in detail in the governing body meeting of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and a monitoring cell will be set up to ensure strict compliance of the new provisions. As per the amendments, name of manufacture/packager/ importer, net quantity of product, manufacturing date, retail sale price and consumer care contacts should have to be displayed in a panel of 40 per cent of the area of the packet in readable font size. Rest is next! See you in May…
9 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
Analytical Study On Multibrand Retail
Post 100 Per Cent FDI PrĂŠcis of 100 per cent FDI in multi brand retail
A
fter years of vehemently opposing any foreign investment in multi-brand retail, the BJPled government in its Budget 2016 sprung a surprise with an unexpected announcement that paved the way for retailers such as Walmart and IKEA to sell multi-brand food products as long as they are sourced and manufactured within
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
India. Such ventures, however, must seek approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). That's welcome news for global retailers that have lately been confused by a growing anti-multi-brand retailing stand taken by the BJP-led government even as India, in 2012, had opened the segment
FDI RE-ENTER
10 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
FDI RE-ENTER by 2018 from US$ 14 billion in 2015. Further, India's e-commerce market is expected to reach US$ 220 billion in terms of gross merchandise value (GMV) and 530 million shoppers by 2025, led by faster speeds on reliable telecom networks, faster adoption of online services and better variety as well as convenience. India’s direct selling industry increased 6.5 per cent in FY2014-15 to Rs 7,958 crore (US$ 1.19 billion) and is expected to reach a size of Rs 23,654 crore (US$ 3.55 billion) by FY2019-20, as per a joint report by India Direct Selling Association (IDSA) and PHD.
for 51% FDI. This decision by the government to allow up to 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) through FIPB in marketing of (processed) food products produced and manufactured in India is very progressive and will help in reducing wastage, helping farm diversification and encourage industry. The retail industry The Indian retail industry has emerged as one of the most dynamic and fast-paced industries due to the entry of several new players. It accounts for over 10 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and around 8 per cent of the employment. India is the world’s fifth-largest global destination in the retail space. The Boston Consulting Group and Retailers Association of India published a report titled, ‘Retail 2020: Retrospect, Reinvent, Rewrite’, highlighting that India’s retail market is expected to nearly double to US$ 1 trillion by 2020 from US$ 600 billion in 2015, driven by income growth, urbanisation and attitudinal shifts. While the overall retail market is expected to grow at 12 per cent per annum, modern trade would expand twice as fast at 20 per cent per annum and traditional trade at 10 per cent.
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
Many companies have invested in the Indian retail space; Retail spending in the top seven Indian cities amounted to Rs 3.58 trillion (US$ 53.7 billion), with organised retail penetration at 19 per cent as of 2014. Online retail is expected to be at par with the physical stores in the next five years. India is expected to become the world’s fastest growing e-commerce market, driven by robust investment in the sector and rapid increase in the number of internet users. Various agencies have high expectations about growth of Indian e-commerce markets. Indian e-commerce sales are expected to reach US$ 55 billion
• Amazon India expanded its logistics footprint three times to more than 2,100 cities and towns in 2015, as Amazon.com invested more than US$ 700 million in its India operations since July 2014. • Walmart India plans to add 50 more cash-and-carry stores in India over the next four to five years. • Opinio, a hyperlocal delivery start-up, has raised US$ 7 million in a Series-A funding from Gurgaon-based e-commerce fulfillment service firm Delivery along with investment from Sands Capital and
11 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
FDI RE-ENTER • Textile major Arvind Limited has announced a partnership with Sephora, owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, a French luxury conglomerate, in order to enter into the beauty and cosmetics segment. • Mobile wallet company MobiKwik has partnered with Jabong.com to provide mobile payment services to Jabong’s customers. • DataWind partnered with HomeShop18 to expand its retail footprint in the country. Under the partnership, HomeShop18 and DataWind would jointly launch special sales programmes across broadcast, mobile and internet media to provide greater access to the latter’s tablet range. • FashionAndYou has opened three distribution hubs in Surat, Mumbai and Bengaluru to accelerate deliveries.
Accel Partners. • Abu Dhabi-based Lulu Group plans to invest Rs 2,500 crore (US$ 375 million) in a fruit and vegetable processing unit, an integrated meat processing unit, and a modern shopping mall in Hyderabad, Telangana. • Aditya Birla Retail, a part of the US$ 40 billion Aditya Birla Group and the fourth-largest supermarket retailer in the country, acquired Total hypermarkets owned by Jubilant Retail. • With an aim to strengthen its advertising segment, Flipkart acquired mobile ad network AdiQuity, which has a history of mobile innovations and valuable experience in the ad space. • US-based Pizza chain Sbarro plans an almost threefold increase in its store count from the current 17 to 50 over the next two years through multiple business models. • Adidas AG, renowned for its Adidas and Reebok sports brands, has become the first foreign sports company to get
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
government approval to open 100 per cent foreign-owned stores in India. • Aeropostale, an American teen fashion retailer, has chosen to enter India over China, and expects India to be among its top three markets over the next four years with revenue target of Rs 500 crore (US$ 75 million).
Globalization the Indian retail industry A decade ago, the retail industry in India was riding a wave of optimism. There were talks of global retail giants considering investments in India. Leading domestic retailers had positioned themselves for exploring strategic partnerships with global players. Wal-Mart formed a joint venture with Bharti Enterprises in August 2007 with plans to open wholesale stores and build a supply chain network. In 2010, Carrefour, the world's second biggest
12 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
FDI RE-ENTER In emerging markets such as India, only a few chains have large networks of stores. Retailing is usually of a local nature, and the industry is highly fragmented. Consumers perceive foreign retailers to be premium players, not offering the services that local grocers do, such as free delivery, credit and custom packaging. In addition, in many parts of the world, including the otherwise open market of India, laws protect local retailers from foreign competition.
retailer, started operations in India. The going seemed good for a while, until three years ago. By the end of 2013, Wal-Mart had parted ways with Bharti Enterprises and Carrefour had announced it was shutting shop in India. Any other partnership plans that global retailers or their Indian counterparts may have harbored have since met with a political and regulatory impasse. It will be interesting to see where the Indian retailers concerned go from here, but first it is essential to examine why the situation today is as it is, starting with the considerations that drive foreign retailers to explore new markets abroad. The lure of globalization is almost irresistible. Many companies in the developed world are keen to follow in the wake of corporations such as Boeing, Coca-Cola, DuPont, General Electric, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Oracle, Unilever and Disney that appear to have succeeded in going global. Globalization is no panacea, however. Overseas success varies widely and it's often tough to boost profits by investing overseas. A closer look at the grocery retailing industry, for instance, reveals that, with a few exceptions, globalizations’ benefits had not accrued to retailers. In contrast to other industries, grocery retail is still dominated by local players
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
in most countries. International players are almost entirely absent from even the largest retail markets. Every grocery retailer that has ventured overseas has failed as often as it has succeeded. It could be argued that the grocers' failures are due to differences in consumer tastes, particularly for food products. However, companies like Mars, Nestle, Kraft, P&G, Danone and Unilever have succeeded in creating global food brands over many long years, so the unsuccessful attempts must be attributable to other factors.
The challenges of doing business in India, especially, are well-documented. In the World Bank's 2014 Ease of Doing Business index, India was placed 134th out of 189 countries, behind even Pakistan and Yemen. Persistent corruption compounds challenges. Foreign investors are influenced as much by fear as by optimism, compelled by the belief that they must invest in India to achieve ambitions, although they know the risks are great and the outcome is highly uncertain. Let's consider the facts. The accumulated losses of India's top 10 food retailers, who account for about 40 per cent of the organised retail sector's revenue, stood at Rs 13,000 crore in 2013-14 on revenue of around Rs 23,500 crore, according to a May 2014 report by Crisil ratings. The supply chain, too, has its share of
13 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
FDI RE-ENTER nationals such as Nestle and Heinz, already present in the country, to take the retail plunge. The government has stipulated that FDI be allowed into the food retail sector only through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) route. The objective of the proposal is to enable big multi-national retail chains in the food and food processing sectors to create back-end infrastructure and bring in the latest technology to the farm sector. This would increase the level of food processing in the country, reduce wastage, control food inflation, create employment opportunities and increase income of farmers.
problems. The fragmented agri-supply base coupled with an inadequate legal framework make it difficult for retailers and food processors to procure quality produce at competitive costs directly from farmers. The small size of the food processing industry further limits the supply options. Rentals account for 7-7.5 per cent of the total costs for organised retail in India against global benchmarks of less than three per cent. Complex and changeable rules governing foreign direct investment have made it tricky for rich world chains to set up shop. India's home-grown supermarkets account for only two per cent of food and grocery sales and are struggling to make a profit. Revenues have not kept pace with rising rents. Supermarkets are not a compelling draw in terms of price and service. Most shoppers in India buy dairy products, vegetables and fruit either daily or every two to three days, and conventional trade has a strong hold on these frequent purchases. Even affluent consumers, in general, prefer traditional stores, because they are closer to home, usually open longer and offer credit. Many deliver free of charge. That supermarkets offer a greater variety of groceries than the neighbourhood store is not considered as big a competitive edge as it may seem. On the whole, it would appear that
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
incentives for foreign investors, while they may or may not have diminished, have certainly not brightened either. Indian retailers would do well to park optimism awhile and focus on reviving growth in key local markets through reinventing or re-structuring their business or operating models. One way to do this could be to achieve the optimum balance between margins and volumes. The food business is largely what generates the volumes; high margins are derived from consumer durables, apparels and other goods. The trick is for retailers to select the product categories carefully and offer a value proposition that will drive consumer preference for their respective formats. It's easier said than done, but it would be a prudent way forward while the industry hopes for the next winds of globalization. Global giants entry in Indian food retail industry The government’s move to allow 100 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail of food and food products produced and manufactured in India may find takers among global retail giants such as Walmart, Tesco, and Marks &Spencer’s. It may also attract niche and speciality players such as Mueller and Shortbread House, and could prompt the food multi-
The presence of multi-national food retailers would also provide an assured market to farmers and small enterprises to sell food and food products. At present, around a tenth of the fruits and vegetables produced in the country are processed, and FDI is expected to help increase that. The idea is to attract foreign investments to better utilize food produced in the country, help farmers realise better prices and create back-end infrastructure. Any proposal for FDI in food retail will be vetted by the FIPB, which will examine whether it fulfills the given set of objectives before clearing it. All-India Food Processors Association’s sees this as globalizing the agri-food sector that will have a multiplier effect on growers, the cold chain and retailing of products. Jindal said it could prompt food multi-nationals in the country to invest in retailing. According to some analysts, the new policy could play a key role in attracting investments from players such as M&S that have entered the retail segment in the country but have avoided the food sector. In food retail it is difficult to stick to the concept of single brand. By allowing multi-brand retail of food manufactured and processed in India, companies such as M&S will be encouraged to get into food retail. Analysts said more clarity needs to come from the Department of Industrial Policy
14 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
FDI RE-ENTER
and Promotion (DIPP) on the issue. “A wider clarity is needed on this from the DIPP. Going by the announcement, besides international companies, 100 per cent FDI will also help Indian retailers who are in multi-brand retailing of food products to tap into foreign capital. Further, they feel that the move is aimed at giving a marketing push for the products manufactured under ‘Make in India’, not only in the domestic market but also overseas. The Government is encouraging the processing of farm produce through the creation of food parks and cold chain infrastructure and many more investments are expected to flow in, especially for the downstream supply chain, while allowing foreign multi-brand retailers to set up food-only stores. Local food companies advocate for strict provisions to ensure farmers benefit from new FDI rule India is venting for investment from international companies but many Local food giant have a demand; Food processing and dairy industry leaders, such as Amul and Rasna want strict provisions in place to ensure that the move helps local farmers and not hurts them. And they expect a large flow of cheap funds due to the government's decision to allow 100% foreign investment in multibrand food retailing. A key condition for foreign companies to sell multi-brand food in India is that all the raw materials must be sourced locally and the products manufactured in India, Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had said. The local majors want the government to strictly enforce this rule.
boosting the investment scenario in India, especially for capital intensive sectors. For the time being, the industry wants more conditions for foreign investment to ensure the farmers are protected and an investment flow is there. The minimum amount of investment by a company should be $50 million and, out of that, 30% investment should be in the backend. The authorities should be cautious that in the guise of FDI, subsidized imports of agri commodities from abroad are not permitted. Conclusion This far-reaching reform will benefit farmers, give impetus to domestic food processing industry and create vast employment opportunities.
Not just the multi-brand retail majors, even the big daddies of food retail such as Trader Joe's are now more likely to enter the India market. Hence the government is hopeful that the policy decision would help in some tie-ups of food retailers with upcoming mega food parks in the country.
Walmart has so far shied away from investing in multi-brand retailing. In 2012, India allowed 51% FDI in multibrand retailing. Such ventures come with a host of conditions such as 30% mandatory local sourcing, $100-million upfront investment and half of it in back-end infrastructure and many other restrictions.
Opening up various sectors and making them attractive for foreign direct investments is critical for the purpose of
Food processing industries minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has been advocating FDI in the space and had written to the
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
Prime Minister's Office pushing for 100% FDI in multi-brand retail in the food processing sector saying such a move would help create infrastructure, revenue and uplift farmers. In 2012, while approving IKEA's Rs 10,500-crore investment proposal, the FIPB had struck down the Swedish retailer's plans to set up its famous cafes in the stores citing laws that don't allow FDI in food. Later, the government gave approval to IKEA to set up restaurants as part of its large outlets only to be consumed in the stores. Similarly, UK chain Marks and Spencer had shown interest a few years ago in selling food items in India but the government had not allowed it fearing a backlash. Jaitley also brought some cheer for small shopkeepers. The government plans to amend the Shop and Establishment Act to enable small shopkeepers to remain open 365 days. He said the government will bring a model shop act that can be adopted by the states. "Permission for keeping stores open 365 days helps retailers increase sales, generates employment, creates customer convenience and also increases tax collection.
15 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
Plot no 7 Khasra no 13 Mohidinpur Manpur Indal Area Behhind Vaisno Dharam Kanta Meerut Road Ghaziabad-201003, Uttar rdesh, India Mob: 09810803491, 08285012431/32 E-mail: vermafoodsystem@gmail.com, Website www.vermagroup.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
16 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
PACKAGING PERSPECTIVE
Banning
The Use Of Plastics
In Food Industry? W
hat is happening?
After the National Green Tribunal strict orders to save and protect the environment from the menace of plastic waste, the food packaging industry is taking a hit. Some Indian states are planning impose veto in use of plastic and of course Karnataka has taken the first step in it. Recently quick service restaurant (QSR)
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
chains operating in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka have a huge packaging problem to grapple with and the state's ban on serving and packing fresh food in plastic containers means popular eating out and coffee chains including Cafe Coffee Day, McDonald's and KFC have to change their packaging strategy overnight. This means food service businesses
17 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
PACKAGING PERSPECTIVE So what does this entire thing have to do with plastic and its banning? Some believe it’s a much needed move, really. Now all we need to do is walk to the store with a bag and our environmental quality will improve magically. No more toxic fumes of plastic burning through heaps of garbage.
will have to switch to bio-degradable packaging, which restaurateurs say would increase costs to the tune of 18-30%, and would have to factor in additional costs if the move goes pan-India. Measures such as these have a cascading all-India impact. With lack of many workable options and not enough clarity, restaurateurs are working out sustaisustainable solutions to comply with the new regulations. The government should have given a fixed timeline to food industry to comply with the new guidelines and it is noticed that alternative packaging such as bagasse packaging isn't working much and all such measures are more expensive and companies are exploring ways to meet the extra costs. So the food companies will either add the cost for deliveries or price products factoring the packaging costs. On average, bio-degradable packaging such as bagasse plates are 18-20% more expensive than plastic coated ones, while glass bottles are 30% costlier and rice and corn starch based spoons and forks are 15% more expensive. The challenge still is lack of options and there are hardly any end-to-end options for biodegradable products. View With the high-income group expanding in cities, services are catching up with ever-growing aspirations of "globalized
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
living". In a little over a generation, things have moved from thriftiness to high levels of consumerism. Milk three decades ago was delivered in bottles and its aluminum caps collected to be sold to the recycler. Now milk is available in a range of Tetrapak and plastic bags and most of these wrappers end up in street corners and then in massive landfills. Nothing we buy today, be it from a grocer or from an electronics store, comes without plastic. And then there are PET bottles; even liquor is PET packaged! Traffic jams and plastic consumption are intricately connected. A growing proportion of the city's population spends a sizeable chunk of time daily on the roads, thus making a meal and eating as a family rather difficult. So come to the rescue online services Pizza Hut or the neighborhood dhaba. The food comes hot, is nicely wrapped in excellent plastic containers, which we find the following morning in the neighborhood waste museum. Courts have issued a range of orders directing civic agencies to insist that everyone must segregate waste at source. So, we can live without brutalizing villagers with our waste. But that's not happening, is it? We simply outsource our civic responsibility to our country.
It's convenient environmentalism for the government, which is what it is, to ban the manufacture and use of certain plastics. Take a close look at the Karnataka Government's decision and you notice there is no ban of PET bottles. PET bottles are not merely a major nuisance in our waste stream, particularly in landfills, they also contribute massively to the spread of dengue, chikungunya, malaria, (not zika, one hopes), and such other mosquitoborne diseases. If we really are serious about ridding our world of unnecessary plastics, then PET bottles must be a thing of the past. It is very difficult to recycle them and there are tonnes of such bottles thrown away every day. Now that means taking on not merely local manufacturers of plastic bags. Of course, Torino or Thumps Up tasted as good when it came in glass bottles a couple of decades ago. But PET packaging became epidemic and almost every soft drink is PET-packaged today. It's convenient for the manufacturer, assures long shelf life and easy transport. Which means the government must also go after the packing in PET bottles. Finally, if we really care about what quality of environment we leave for our kids, then surely we need to step off the consumerism grail. We need to squeeze the maximum out of every product we buy, be it a cell phone or a computer, and then demand the manufacturer takes back the over-packaging that is often done, and deals with it responsibly. And, it helps to make time to cook fresh, rather than order food; to walk to a store and get things packaged in paper bags rather than lift things off a shelf. To live happily and ensure the same for generations to come, we need to consider plastic as a useful material, not to be recklessly used though. Counterview
18 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
19 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
For Updated News Everyday logon to
www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
20 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
PACKAGING PERSPECTIVE use of higher quantities of raw materials. They also require higher energy and water during manufacturing. It is recommended that the prudent way forward is not an outright ban on plastic packaging but rather finding solutions to the problem of plastic waste management. The study estimates that reuse rates in India are about 70% for PET-plastic, and lower for non-PET plastic. The low rate of reuse is despite the existence of technologies that have been tested in India – such as polymer blending in bitumen roads and co-processing in cement kilns - that can help India solve its plastic conundrum in its entirety.
Banning plastic packaging would adversely impact the growth of several industries such as FMCG, food processing, etc., and is likely to raise the cost of products (especially low-cost) by manifold, according to a new study titled ‘Why Banning Plastics Packaging is Not a Viable Option’ – released by The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Strategy& (the management consulting arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers). While appreciating the concerns related to environment it needs to be noted that restrictions or ban on plastics packaging would impact the growth of several industries like FMCG, food processing, plastics packaging and allied industries. It could further adversely impact consumers in terms of cost, health and safety. The report comes out as the National Green Tribunal becomes strict on ban on plastic packaging ban and FICCI has conducted this study to analyse the impact of a possible ban and the findings show that this could lead to unwarranted consequences particularly on low priced products (Rs 5) as the cost to manufacture and distribute these products could rise multi fold. Further this study revealed that plastics industry sales & employment, agriculture sector and farmers could also
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
be impacted. The study highlights that plastics are the material of choice in packaging products across categories globally. In India, an overwhelming majority of the FMCG products are packaged in plastic – in fact, 90 percent of biscuits dried processed food items, hair care products, dairy products, laundry products and baked goods sold in India in 2014 were packaged in plastic. Plastic has been the preferred material for packaging (relative to alternatives such as glass, paper, metals etc.) globally as well as in India due to three critical benefits superior food safety, quality and shelf life; lower environmental impact across the product lifecycle; and better versatility to create more innovative and consumer friendly packaging options. The study estimates that a ban on plastic packaging will directly impact plastic industry sales of Rs 53,000 crores. Additionally, about 13 lakh personnel across 10,000 firms (mostly SMEs) engaged in plastic packaging for FMCG will need to find alternative employment. Further, it is deduced the ban might forfeit the purpose of intention behind it. As alternatives, in general, have lower product to package ratio, resulting in the
The report explores the root causes for the low rates of re-use, and recommends a four-pronged approach that various stakeholders including the government and industry should undertake to improve the segregation, collection, recycling and re-use of plastic waste. Food Packaging Industry can reduce plastic waste The food packaging industry is a large producer of plastic containers which have a short useful life. This industry is responsible for considerable plastic waste ending up in landfills or as litter. It needs to understand that with plastics there are two sides and both need to be considered: the supply side and the waste or disposal side. Plastics are intentionally designed to not break down in the environment. That is what makes them so attractive to this industry, but these same properties also carry over to the waste side and cause problems there. The manufacturers that really focus on making their plastic recyclable are to be applauded. But recyclable does not mean recycled. A simple fact many people do not understand. Simply because a PET bottle can be recycled does not mean it goes into a recycling bin. More often than not it ends up in the trash bound for a landfill. Is this the manufacturers’ fault? Well partially yes. They are the ones making these plastic items and they know that most of them will not get recycled and some will end up as litter. Yet they
21 www.agronfoodprocessing.com absolve themselves of any responsibility by showing the recyclable label on the bottles. If these manufactures were to actively support programs like container deposit schemes instead of lobbying against them, then we would have substantially higher recycle rates (over 80 % instead of 25%) and a lot less litter of their products. This has been well proven by regions that do have these schemes in place. So many companies say they are being environmentally responsible and following sustainable practices. This is more for company spin than reality in many cases. To say food would be too expensive if it was packaged in other less waste causing packages is no excuse to pollute the planet. For their packaging to be sustainable and the world not to be left in a worse condition due to their products, then perhaps they should be charging the higher real price for their food items. The manufacturers claim they are moving to thin walled plastic vessels as a way to reduce the volume of plastic used. Reduction of volumes certainly helps them lower their manufacturing costs, but a plastic tray littering the ground, whether it is a thick or a thin wall, is still a plastic item polluting the ground. If it goes to a landfill, a thin one may take a few 100 years to break down vs. multiple 100 of
years for a thick one. Does that make us feel better? A trip through a grocery store will show plastic food packaging with either no recycling symbol on it or #7 on it. Both of these types have to be thrown out to trash. Food packaging should only be made from commonly recyclable plastic types and the recycle symbol should always be printed on the package. There is a current trend to replace more and more items packed in paper or cardboard packaging with plastic wrapping. Some items used to be packaged in cardboard boxes for freight purposes, such as a 12 pack of bottles. Now they are also packed in plastic shrink wrap. So now we have plastic wrapped in plastic. Apart from being lower cost to produce, all these changes are doing is generating more plastic to dispose of and create more waste issues. How environmentally responsible is this? The food industry is also moving
PACKAGING PERSPECTIVE
towards smaller and smaller servings for convenient snack sized servings. Bite size servings of crackers each in their own disposable plastic package, or small 250 ml bottles of drink are contributing significantly to the number of items of plastic waste. Design for total life and not just the short life of the product inside the plastic package needs to be considered. The juice in a two litre juice bottle only lasts for a few days before it has been consumed. Yet the bottle will last many 100’s of years afterwards. This not only makes no sustainable sense, but the design of the bottle features itself make an even worse hazard. Closed rings on bottles are a well-documented hazard to wildlife. One common juice bottle has three separate rings on it: one for security, one as a Lifting handle and a third for the lifting handle to attach to the top of the bottle! These rings are clearly designed for the use of the bottle while it has juice in it and a complete disregard for the bottle once disposed. A simple redesign of the bottle to incorporate a T handle instead of a loop handle and eyelets on the bottle neck could eliminate all these rings, making the bottle safer for the environment. Another issue that is attracting a lot of attention for the manufacturing side is the use of bioplastics claiming a green alternative to petroleum based plastics. While it is refreshing to see oil based products being replaced, at some point
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
22 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
ultraplast Come to us for a complete range of conveyor components • Plastic Modular belts •Plastic & Stainless Steel Slat Chains •Conveyor Components • Polymer Sprockets, Idlers and Gears •UHMWPE Wearstrips & Guides
UltraPlast Chainbelts Private limited
81,New DLF Industrial Area, Faridabad 121 003, Haryana, India. Tel: +91 1294113186/87 Fax: +91 1294113188. Email: info@ultraplast.in or ultraplastindia@gmail.com www.ultraplastindia.com www.ultraplast.in
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
23 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
we must ask: is the use of land to grow plants, from which disposable short lived plastic packaging is made, rather than growing food, the best use of our land? The world population is projected to be 9 billion by 2050. Some bioplastics even make the exact same plastic molecule as what is derived from petroleum sources meaning their products have the exact same waste issues as the plastics made from petroleum. Most bioplastics are not designed to address their disposal side. They only address the manufacturing side by marketing their so called green non petroleum attributes. When it comes to disposal, these bioplastics will not break down in a landfill. This is stated on their websites. Most bioplastics require composting facilities for their biodegradation. Without these composting conditions the plastics will not biodegrade. Their manufacturers know this. Bioplastics are a clear example of manufacturers focusing their efforts on the supply side and paying less attention to the waste side of their products. From a waste point of view it is not clear that bioplastics offer any advantages at all. Finally, in recent years there has been the release of landfill biodegradable additives. These have the property of making almost any plastic biodegradable when disposed to a landfill. Since most of our plastic trash at the moment ends up in a landfill, then making the plastics able to biodegrade away in a landfill is what food packaging manufacturers ought to be considering. No breakdown occurs while the plastic is not in a landfill. These additives also encourage recycling. The plastic can be
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
PACKAGING PERSPECTIVE recycled as many times as is practical as this then spreads the additive around to other plastics. Eventually when the recycled items do get disposed to a landfill, they will then begin to biodegrade away. The additives are also USA FDA compliant which makes them attractive for use in food packaging containers.
In summary, while food packaging manufacturers make many claims about being environmentally responsible, many of the changes they make are geared towards lowering their production costs on the manufacturing side of the plastics issue. There are a lot of changes that could be implemented to address the waste side for the items they produce. These latter changes while perhaps not directly benefitting their bottom line will leave us with a better environment, an environment with less of their plastic trash. This would enhance our perceptions of these pollution generating companies and perhaps their bottom lines would in fact increase. Another issue that is attracting a lot of attention for the manufacturing side is the use of bioplastics claiming a green alternative to petroleum based plastics. Some bioplastics even make the exact same plastic molecule as what is derived from petroleum sources. Bioplastic products when made by these methods have the exact same waste issues as the plastics made from petroleum. Most bioplastics are not designed to address the disposal side of issues. When it comes to disposal, these bioplastics will not break down in a landfill. This is stated on manufacturers’ websites. Most bioplastics
require composting facilities for their biodegradation. Without composting conditions the plastics will not biodegrade and the manufacturers know this? From a waste point of view it is not clear that bioplastics offer any advantages at all. Finally in recent years, there has been the release of landfill biodegradable additives. These have the property of making almost any plastic biodegradable when disposed to a landfill. No breakdown occurs while the plastic is not in a landfill. These additives also encourage recycling. The plastic can be recycled as many times as it practical as this spreads the additive around further and eventually when the recycled items do get disposed to a landfill, they will then begin to biodegrade away. The additives are also USA FDA compliant making them attractive for use in food packaging containers. To sum up, while food packaging manufacturers make many claims about being environmentally responsible, many of the changes they make are geared towards lowering their production costs on the manufacturing side of the plastics issue. There are a lot of changes that could be implemented to address the waste side for the items they produce. These latter changes while perhaps not immediately benefitting their bottom line, will leave us with a better environment, more free from their plastic trash. Perhaps that would enhance our perceptions of these pollution generating companies and maybe their bottom lines would in fact go up.
24 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
121, 1st Floor, Rassaz Multiplex, Station Road, Mira Road (E), Dist Thane - 401 107, Maharashtra. Ph. : +91-22-28115068, 28555069, 8689979988 Email : info@agronfoodprocessing.com www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
25 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
26 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
MILK STORY
Amazing story of India's most
successful brand AMUL
G
ujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the Indian dairy group and maker of the Amul brand, aims to raise its production levels to drive "rapid" growth over the next five years.
per day by fiscal 2020-21. And based on estimated growth in market demand for Amul products and future marketing efforts, the company anticipates at least 20% CAGR growth in the business of GCMMF during the next five years.
Reporting an 11% increase it is revealed that Amul plans to enhance its milk processing capacity from the current level of 28.1m litres per day to 38m litres
GCMMF has set a target to reach revenues of INR300bn (US$4.5bn) by fiscal 201718. The company said that expansion is being achieved through higher milk
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
procurement and the addition of new markets in India to its sales network. Looking at fiscal 2015-16, the revenue rose to INR230bn, up from INR207bn in the 12 months to end-March. This equates to a 187% increase in turnover over the last six years. In order to meet growing demand for milk products in urban India, Amul’s members have started creating their own milk
27 www.agronfoodprocessing.com dairy industry by scripting Operation Flood, a cooperative movement that turned India from a net importer of milk into one of the world’s two largest producers today. Not for nothing was Varghese Kurien called the Milkman of India, though his vision was a simple one of offering thousands of small dairy farmers’centralized marketing and quality control facilities, the missing links in the dairy economy at the time. Thus, in 1973 the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation was established to market milk and milk products manufactured by six district cooperative unions of Gujarat.
processing plants in states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan. Amul antiquity The tubby little moppet in the familiar polka-dotted dress is not just the Amul Butter mascot. The Amul Girl, who has entered urban lore with her regular appearance on billboards accompanied by clever catchphrases that comment on contemporary events, stands for the very fight its parent was born to counter. The cooperative movement that began Gujarat back in 1946 was a movement against the atrocities of Polson Dairy, a locally-owned dairy in Anand, Gujarat, which allegedly procured milk from farmers at very low rates to sell to the Bombay (now Mumbai) government. Amul’s architect in almost every way was the late Dr Varghese Kurien (who, ironically, died in the 50th year of the creation of the Amul girl). Arriving in Anand in 1949 as a government employee to manage a dairy, he went from helping farmers repair their machinery to revolutionizing the Indian
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
Competition in the dairy sector 40 years ago was very different. In the sixties and seventies, India was a milk-deficit country, not at all self-sufficient. Milk powder was imported. Today India has come a long way and from a per capita milk consumption of less than 110 grams per person to around 300 grams per person has happened and largely possible due to the cooperative movement. But branding also played a role, cleverly designed to add a tinge of nationalism to an essentially rural revolution. When experts asked Kurien to choose brand names that would sound foreign, he wisely insisted on an Indian name. Thus,
MILK STORY Amul (then short for Anand Milk Union Ltd) was born. Amul was not just a milk and butter brand, it became an umbrella for all the products that GCMMF marketed.The (original) Amul Girl was created by Sylvester daCunha (daCunha Communications) to counter the Polson dairy girl. A seasoned marketer, Kurien gave DaCunha Communications immense creative freedom to release the Amul Girl ads without waiting to take permission from the company. The freedom is still maintained and is the reason the Amul Girl is never late with her take on the world around, while the late Eustace Fernandez sketched the mascot, it was ad and theatre veteran Bharat Dabholkar who created some of the more popular ads. The first dairy, Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, which created Amul in 1955, handed over the brand name to GCMMF in 1973. By then, Amul had become a brand name in its own right. It is said that for Operation Flood, Kurien’s idea of having farmers own the brand went a long way in creating a sense of ownership and, in turn, responsibility for the product’s quality. This is the reason state federations now
28 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
29 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
30 www.agronfoodprocessing.com countries with 7,200 exclusive parlours in India. Amul ranks 15 in global dairy rankings According to a recent survey by International Farm Comparison Network Amulhas risen to the rank of 15 amongst the top dairy organisations of the world), a leading, global dairy knowledge organisation. Two years back, Amul had ranked 20 in the list. This has been the fastest rise by any top-ranking dairy organisations across the globe. Other top-ranked dairy organisations in the list are multinationals operating in multiple countries, while Amul operates primarily in India.
have their own brands -- Nandini in Karnataka, Verka in Punjab, Saras in Rajasthan and Mahananda in Maharashtra and branding gave a farmers’ cooperative a quasi-commercial strength, enabling it to adapt to competition. GCMMF’s professional management focused on fortifying its own distribution network by the eighties. In the nineties, it laid down the distribution of edible oil and frozen products and in 2000-2010, liquid milk outside of Gujarat. Since 2010, Amul’s parent has been busy procuring milk from outside Gujarat. The supply chain spanning four distribution channels and pricing with attractive margins have ensured the federation can venture into new product categories and stay on top of competition. Even after the opening up of the sector in 1991, and the entry of several private dairies, there are few serious brands that have emerged in the domestic market, while Amul reaches one million retailers through a network of 10,000 dealers. Since the mid-90s, Amul has been able to take the “range outside the security of our traditional products, milk powder and butter. Brand Amul is already present in over 50
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
Since the milk solids content in Indian milk is much higher, due to presence of buffalo milk in India, Amul would rank among top 10 dairy organisations, if the ranking was done on basis of milk solids being handled. USA’s Dairy Farmers of America ranked one with a 3.7 per cent share of world milk production at 27.8 million tonnes of milk intake.It has been followed by New Zealand’s Fonterra, France’s Groupe Lactalis, Switzerland’s Nestle and Denmark’s Aria Foods. France’s Danone came in at the eighth position. GCMMF has been ranked 15th with 4.8 million tonnes of milk procurement and a 0.6 per cent share in world milk production. India is the largest milk producing nation in the world; GCMMF will also one day fulfill its destiny of becoming the largest dairy organisation in the entire world. How is Amul different from other dairy players? Unlike in other businesses, Amul has to buy raw material at the highest price possible because the company is buying from its own owners. And sell the finished product at a reasonable rate to keep expanding the consumer base. Whatever milk is sold, 86% of the sale price goes to milk farmers. For other value-added products, where packaging and other duties come in, it may be as high as 80%. This means
MILK STORY that if milk is sold at Rs 50, Rs 43 goes to the farmer. If you compare it with the developed world, which boast about its efficiencies, farmers get much lower. In the US, milk farmers get only 38% of what the consumer pays. In UK, it is only 36%. While one-third goes to the retailer (modern trade) and another one-third for processing, only the remaining one-third goes to the milk producer. This is because Amul has a cow-to-consumer chain in place. And the corporate philosophy is value for many (for 3.5 million milk farmers or owners) and value for money (for millions of Amul’s consumers). In the international market, prices have crashed by half over one year. The price of skimmed milk powder has dropped to $2,400-2,500 per tonne from over $5,000. Last year, New Zealand farmers were getting $8.5 per kg for milk solids, and now they have dropped it to $4.8. In the world market, there is a slowdown in demand, because of drop in demand from China. But production has gone up and in the next two years, the prices are going to be stable the world over. In 1970s (before Operation Flood), India’s per capita consumption is 112 gms per day as against WHO’s recommendation of 276 gm. Today, per capital consumption is 300 gms, above
31 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
MILK STORY Challenges Enhancing productivity is a challenge. In India, average productivity is around 3 litres. (Cow is 1.5 litre and buffalo – 4.5 litre, cross breed – 8 litre) where in developed countries it is anywhere between 25 and 30 litre. Reason: Very low input and hence very low output. We feed our animals what is left over crop residues. Secondly, conversion factor is also low. Breed is also important for enhancing productivity. Another big challenge is how to motivate the next generation of milk farmers, educated youth continue in dairy farming and to make this business lucrative, contemporary, glamorous option. In this business, one has get up at 4’o clock, milk cows, clean the farm, etc. It is round the year, and no holidays.
the WHO’s recommendations. While milk production has gone up seven times, India’s population has gone up manifold. In India, we have seen an increase in the price of milk. Cow milk (3.5% fat) costs Rs 29 per litre when bought from co-operatives and Rs 25-26 when bought from farmers. Price for fat has gone up from Rs 500 per kilo to Rs 550-560. Amul branding In the dairy industry, the easiest thing is to set up dairy plant and machinery. Building brand is difficult. But with money and the media, one can do it in two-three years. The other important thing is to build distribution network for fresh, chilled and frozen dairy products. It requires setting up cold storages and other infrastructure and there you need volumes and if you don’t have that, your partners’ overheads will be very high. Hence one would not be able to compete with brands like Amul. The fourth and most difficult thing that nobody realises until one enters the sector is milk procurement. Procuring quality milk in consistent quantities is extremely difficult. Amul has been growing year after year, and competition is not able to catch up. Everyone knows how to make butter, cheese and ice-cream. But nobody can come anywhere close to Amul because
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
the value for money Amul gives to the consumer. The company is not replacing expensive natural ingredients with cheap synthetic ingredients or chemicals, like many other manufacturers do. For instance, in ice-cream, we add dairy fat. But some manufacturers who want to make a quick buck may compromise the quality by replacing dairy fat with vegetable fat and make frozen dessert which is similar to ice-cream. As per Indian rules, you can’t sell it as ice-cream. In the corporate world, there is always a hunger for more profits and they start replacing expensive ingredients with lessexpensive ingredients. In butter, Amul has around 90% market share. Butter manufacturing is not difficult, anyone can do itbut nobody can give the kind of butter that Amul produces and sell at our cost because of our volume game. Also, maintaining a cold chain and a huge network of outlets is not easy. Varghese Kurien has taught the giant company: 'Please consider your customer smarter than you. Don’t think that you can tinker with the ingredients or weight. If you employ short-term marketing strategies, your customer will lose faith in you. We are growing thanks to Amul’s value system.'
Amul has become what it is today thanks to the fusion of selfless and dedicated leadership of Tribhuvandas Patel and committed and honest professionals like Varghese Kurien. In India, dedicated leadership is lacking. However, Amul has been lucky to have good support from political leadership. The dairy giant does not face any political interference from governments while fixing the milk price. But other cooperatives are not that lucky. What is required now is constant support from the government, irrespective of the political parties.
32 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
FOOD STOCK
Why India must rely on local food stocks? C
ontext – For the last four years the numbers that describe India’s essential food security have become a common code: 105 million tons (mt) of rice, 95 mt of wheat, 41 to 43 mt of coarse cereals, 19 to 20 mt of pulses, 165 to 170 mt of vegetables and 80 to 90 mt of fruit. With these quantities assured, our households feed themselves, army and factory canteens are supplied, the public distribution system is kept stocked and the processed and retail food industry secures its raw material. Only provided there is such assurance,
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
and that the allowance for plus or minus is as small as possible. Monsoon 2015 has removed that assurance for the agricultural year 2015-16. Our 36 states and union territories – and the 63 cities whose populations are more than a million – must begin to deal with the possible scenarios immediately. Stock scenarios – In September 2015 the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, of the Ministry
of Agriculture, Government of India, released the first of its usual four ‘advance estimates’ for the 2015-16 agricultural
33 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
FOOD STOCK by way of feed, seed and waste (foodgrain that is used in animal feed, is harvested to use as seed for sowing, and which is damaged after harvest or rendered unusable because of pests and infection). Allowing for the lowest likely level of deductions, the combined deduction is about 7% for rice, 10.5% for wheat, 17% for coarse cereals, 15% for pulses, 5% for vegetables and 10% for fruits.
year. Each estimate sets the targets for the year for the foodgrain (and also commercial) crops, and provides with every estimate how likely it is that the annual target will be met. This first advance estimate has issued a direct warning: rice production is estimated at 90.6 mt against a target of 106.1 mt. The wheat target is just under 95 mt but there is no estimate provided as yet. The target for coarse cereals is 43.2 mt whereas the advance estimate is just under 28 mt. The target for pulses is 20mt and the first estimate is 5.5mt. What are the implications? The responsibility of the Department is to provide a provisional reading of the conditions that affect the production of our staple crops, and to inform and prepare state and central governments of the likelihood of shortfalls in foodgrain. The signal it has given for rice, estimated at 85% of the target, must be taken as a flashing red beacon which demands that our food stocks return to the foreground of the national agenda. It is likely that the second and third advance estimates will see quantities revised upwards, but our planning must be based on this first estimate so that even the most adverse of natural contingencies can be met with suitable measures. Using the first advance estimate as the basis, here are the likely annual production quantities, at 90% of the target and at 95% of the target: rice, between 95 and 101 mt; wheat, between 85 and 91 mt; coarse cereals, between 39 and 42 mt; pulses, between 16 and 17 mt; total
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
foodgrains, between 236 and 250 mt of which cereals are between 220 and 232 mt. Household demand – Will these quantities suffice, as for the last four years total foodgrain targets and production have been in the region of 260-273 mt? To help answer this question, two sets of deductions must be accounted for. To begin with, for each main category of foodgrain, there are production quantities, imports, stock variations and exports. When these are added or subtracted, a gross domestic supply quantity remains. It is worth also noting that this gross quantity is still no more than a best assessment that is synthesised from the information provided by state governments. The first set of deductions is
The available quantities are now revised further. Under a 95% of target scenario, we will have 93.5 mt of rice, 81 mt of wheat, 34.5 mt of coarse cereals and 14.5 mt of pulses. In the same way, a 95% of target scenario for vegetables is 153.5 mt and for fruits it is 72.5 mt. On the consumption side we have the households – in 2016 we will have 175 million rural and 83 million urban households. These households will require a baseline minimum of 181 mt of cereals, 136 mt of vegetables, 45 mt of fruits and 41 mt of pulses. Under a 95% of production target scenario therefore, there will be enough cereals, enough vegetables and enough fruits. We have been falling short in pulses for several years. But this apparent comfort is still without the second set of deductions. And these are: (1) buffer stocks of rice and wheat to be maintained, with 5-8 mt of rice
34 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
during the year and 10-18 mt of wheat during the year (to fulfil the demands on the public distribution system and to fulfil the allocations for the food-based welfare programmes), and in addition the strategic reserve of 2 mt of rice and 3 mt of wheat to be maintained; (2) the use of foodgrains by the food processing and retail food industry; (3) exports of primary crops (such as rice and in particular basmati) and processed crops (vegetables and fruits); (4) the industrial use of foodgrain (including for biodiesel); (5) the diversion of cereals to alcohol distilleries. Some amongst the second set of deductions are known – such as the withdrawals for buffer stocks and the food reserves, and the export quantities – but the others are either hidden, concealed or misreported. In a food production scenario that is less than 95% of targets (in the way that rice has already been estimated for 2015-16), the deductions from gross crop production will decrease available foodgrains, vegetables and fruits to levels that will compromise household food security, especially those households in the lower income brackets. RecommendationsThe climate variations that have led the Department of Agriculture to raise a red flag warning are no longer uncommon. The 2015 monsoon
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
was affected by El Nino conditions, which are expected to continue into the first quarter of 2016. These changes in the pattern of the Indian summer monsoon are amplified by land use change in our districts, by deforestation, by rapid urbanisation, by inequitous water use, and by consumption behaviour. Some of these can be addressed through policy, education and incentives over the long term. What is needed immediately however are: a) A review of the drivers of crop cultivation choice in our watersheds and agro-ecological zones so that, as far as possible, these settlements units begin the transition towards local food security in sustainable ways. This means that the income-led arguments which favour the cultivation of commercial crops for farming households must be critically re-
FOOD STOCK examined – in a situation of primary crop scarcity an income buffer alone will not help these households. b) The demands placed by export arrangements (including the export of meat, which represents fodder and feed) and by the food processing and retail food industry must be quantified and made public. Especially at the level of district administrations, the need to rationally incentivise land use towards the cultivation of food crop staples that suit agro-ecological conditions has become an urgent one. The decentralisation of planning that can make such an approach possible can take place only when hitherto hidden and concealed foodgrains use becomes public. c) To reach self-reliance at the level of panchayat or block (tahsil, taluka), cooperative farming must be vigorously encouraged, villages must become self-reliant in the provisioning of their food staples (a consideration that must balance that of the ‘national market’), the bio-physical limits of the major food producing districts (the top 250 by quantity) have already been reached and this necessarily limits the demand urban India can exert upon rural districts, in terms not only of food quantities but also in terms of the population that must be fully engaged in foodgrains cultivation.
35 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
WHEAT SCENARIO
Wheat scenario today a big leap forward Situation in domestic market more than comfortable as India has stocks
I
ndia has established itself globally as the second-largest producer of wheat — next only to China — and is the sixth-largest exporter of wheat products. On an average, the country produces over 90 million tonnes of wheat annually against an average consumption of about 78 million tonnes. As a matter of fact, wheat being the major staple for a larger part of the Indian population, it has attained a prime position in the government’s grain
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
policy. The policy essentially aims at procuring sufficient stocks to meet the country’s food requirements, assuring remunerative prices to farmers for their produce to safeguard their interests and providing food grains to consumers at reasonable prices to ensure ‘Food for All.’ The basic food grain policy is thus governed by a minimum
36 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
WHEAT SCENARIO
support price (MSP) system for farmers with a procurement target set to meet the nation’s food requirement under a defined market policy. Apart from assured remunerative prices to farmers and food grains to consumers at reasonable prices, a proper distribution channel is put in place to ensure that the food grains reach the targeted beneficiary. It was not very long ago when the country had to import grains to meet its domestic requirements and India was known as one of the major wheat importers globally. Wheat research scientists have helped India in coming out of those days of “import dependency” and the country has since trudged a long and arduous path from the days of deficiency to selfsufficiency and to a surplus position today. India is proud to have entered the global arena as one of the major players in the wheat trade with an exportable surplus. The government’s policy has been supporting value added exports and longterm announcements on export of wheat products have allowed the process of uninterrupted trade. It helped in building the confidence of buyers across the border and provided flour millers with a platform to establish themselves as trusted and sustained suppliers of quality wheat products. Indian milling technology has been able to meet the international standards and can process wheat products as per the specifications of the end products and is at par with global standards.
had to resort to import of wheat to meet the end-product quality specifications. The roller flour milling industry acts as the vital link between the producer and the actual consumers. Since the flour milling industry is essentially associated with the production of wheat products such as maida and sooji, it acts as the intermediate feeding industry to the wheat-based food industry, namely, bakeries and confectioneries. The flour industry processes almost 33 per cent of the nation’s wheat production annually for various wheat-based food products such as breads, biscuits, pasta, noodles and even roti, the domestic flat bread.
Together with a healthy wheat crop this year, the situation in the domestic market is more than comfortable as the country has stocks, which is almost of the buffer requirement. Last year, unfortunately, the wheat crop suffered a substantial loss on account of heavy unseasonable rains and hailstorm that affected both the quantity and quality of the grain.
The flour milling industry is one of the country’s big job-generating sectors employing highly qualified and technical experts as also semi-skilled and unskilled labour. It thus makes a vital contribution to national economy by way of employment creation, apart from catering to the country’s very basic food requirement. The industry also supports activities in allied segments such as traders, transporters, store and warehouses and also packaging and printing for finished products.
The rain-affected wheat not only had a shorter shelf life but also failed the quality tests on the processing front. As a consequence, the flour milling industry
Normally, the industry sources its milling requirements from the open market during the harvest season and from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) during the
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
post-harvest season. But at times quality wheat is also imported for blending to meet the specific global food requirement standards. The Indian flour milling industry needs a regular grain policy at home, apart from promotional and policy support for value added exports to help in establishing itself as a trusted global partner. For utilisation of surplus wheat stocks, value added exports of wheat-based products will not only help in energising the idle milling capacity at home but also earn more foreign exchange for the country. Bran, a major wheat by-product, will also be available at home as cattlefeed to cool off prices of fodder. The average annual wheat production of more than 90 million tonnes providing sufficient exportable surplus gives enough opportunity for up-gradation of the Indian flour milling industry for better and healthy processing of wheat products — atta, maida, sooji and bran not only for domestic consumers but also for buyers abroad. This is the right opportunity to perform and establish the ‘make in India’ initiative a proud movement by inviting international technology and blending it with local expertise to help transform the country’s products.
37 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
SPICE
Turmeric the golden spice T
urmeric (Curcuma longa) (Family: Zingiberaceae) is used as condiment, dye, drug and cosmetic in addition to its use in religious ceremonies. India is a leading producer and exporter of turmeric in the world. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Karnataka, West Bengal, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Assam are
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
some of the important states cultivating turmeric, of which, Andhra Pradesh alone occupies 38.0% of area and 58.5% of production. During 2013-2014, the country produced 12.29 lakh tonnes of turmeric from an area of 2.34 lakh ha. Climate and soil Turmeric can be grown in diverse tropical
38 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
SPICE treated with mancozeb 0.3% (3 g/L of water) for 30minutes, shade dried for 3-4 hours and planted. A seed rate of 2,500 kgof rhizomes is required for planting one hectare of turmeric.
conditions from sea level to 1500 m above sea level, at a temperature range of 20-35oC with an annual rainfall of 1500 mm or more, under rain-fed or irrigated conditions. Though it can be grown on different types of soils, it thrives best in well-drained sandy or clay loam soils with a pH range of 4.5-7.5 with good organic status. Varieties A number of cultivars are available in the country and are known mostly by the name of locality where they are cultivated. Some of the popular cultivars are Duggirala, Tekkurpet, Sugandham, Amalapuram, Erode local, Salem, Alleppey, Moovattupuzha and Lakdong. The improvedvarieties of turmeric released from ICAR-Indian Institute of SpicesResearch, Kozhikode and their salient features are given in Table 1. Cultivation Preparation of land The land is prepared with the receipt of early monsoon showers. The soilis brought to a fine tilth by giving about four deep ploughings. Hydratedlime @ 500 - 1000 kg/ha has to be applied for laterite soils based on thesoil pH and thoroughly ploughed. Immediately with the receipt of pre-monsoon showers, beds of 1.0 m width, 30 cm height and of convenientlength are prepared with spacing of 50 cm between beds. Planting is alsodone by forming ridges and furrows. Seed material Whole or split mother and finger rhizomes are used for planting and well developed healthy and disease free rhizomes are to be selected. The seed rhizomes are
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
Transplanting Though transplanting in turmeric is not conventional, it is foundprofitable. A transplanting technique in turmeric by using singlebud sprouts (about 5 g) has been standardized to produce goodquality planting material with reduced cost. The technology has beenstandardized at Horticulture
College and Research Institute, Tamil NaduAgricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The technique involvesraising transplants from single sprout seed rhizomes in the pro-tray andplanted in the field after 30-40 days. The advantages of this technology areproduction of healthy planting materials and reduction in seed rhizomequantity and eventually reduced cost on seeds. Technology • Select healthy turmeric rhizomes for seed purpose • Treat the selected rhizomes with mancozeb (0.3%) and quinalphos (0.075%) for 30 min and store in well
39 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
40 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
SPICE hectare. Integrated application of coir compost (@ 2.5 t/ha) combined with FYM, biofertilizer (Azospirillum) and half recommended dose of NPK is also recommended.
ventilated place • One month before planting, the seed rhizomes are cut into single buds with small piece of rhizomes weighing 5-7 g. • Treat the single bud sprouts (mancozeb 0.3%) for 30 min before planting • Fill the pro-trays (98 well) with nursery medium containing partially decomposed coir pith and vermicompost (75:25), enriched with PGPR/Trichoderma 10g/kg of mixture • Plant the turmeric bud sprouts in protrays • Maintain the pro-trays under shade net house (50%) • Adopt need based irrigation with rose can or by using suitable sprinklers • Seedlings will be ready within 30-35 days for transplanting. Planting In Kerala and other West Coast areas where the rain fall begins early, the crop can be planted during April-May with the receipt of pre-monsoons howers. Small pits are made with a hand hoe on the beds with a spacing of 25 cm x 30 cm. Pits are filled with well decomposed cattle manure orcompost, seed rhizomes are placed over it then covered with soil. The optimum spacing in furrows and ridges is 45-60 cm between the rowsand 25 cm between the plants. Manuring and fertilizer application Farmyard manure (FYM) or compost
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
@ 30-40 t/ha is applied by broadcasting and ploughing at the time of preparation of land or asbasal dressing by spreading over the beds or in to the pits at the time of planting. Organic manures like oil cakes can also be applied @ 2 t/ha.In such case, the dosage of FYM can be reduced. Recommended blanket nutrient dosage for turmeric for Kerala is 60 kg N, 50 kg P2O5 and 120kg K2O per
As the soil fertility will be varying with the soil type, agro ecological conditions or management systems, site specific nutrient management based on the soil test results for major nutrient is advocated. There commended dose of nutrients for varying soil test values of N, P andK is given in table 2. The fertilizers are to be applied in 2 - 3 split doses.Full dose of phosphorus is applied as basal at the time of planting. Equal split doses of N and K is top dressed at 45, 90 (and 120) DAP. In zinc deficient soils, basal application of zinc fertilizer up to 5 kgzinc/ha (25 kg of zinc sulphate/ha) gives good yield. Foliar application of micronutrient mixture specific to turmeric is also recommended (dosage @ 5 g/L) twice, 60 and 90 DAP, for higher yield. Mulching The crop is to be mulched immediately after planting with green leaves @ 12-15 t/ha. Mulching may be repeated @ 7.5 t/
41 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
SPICE Rhizome rot The disease is caused by Pythium aphanidermatum. The lower leaves of the infected pseudostem show yellowing, collar region of the pseudostem becomes soft and water soaked, resulting in collapse of the plantand decay of rhizomes. Treating the seed rhizomes with mancozeb 0.3%for 30 minutes prior to storage and at the time of sowing prevents the disease. When the disease is noticed in the field, the beds should be drenched with COC 0.2% or Metalaxyl -mancozeb 0.125%.
ha at 40 and 90 days after planting after weeding, application of fertilizers and earthing up. Weeding and irrigation Weeding has to be done thrice at 60, 90 and 120 days after planting depending upon weed intensity. In the case of irrigated crop, depending upon the weather and the soil conditions, about 15 to 23 irrigations are to be given in clayey soils and 40 irrigations in sandy loams. Mixed cropping Turmeric can be grown as an intercrop in coconut and arecanut plantations. It can also be raised as a mixed crop with chillies, colocasia, onion, brinjal and cereals like maize, ragi, etc. Plant protection Diseases Leaf blotch Leaf blotch is caused by Taphrina maculans and appears as small, oval, rectangular or irregular brown spots on either side of the leaves which soon become dirty yellow or dark brown. The leaves also turn yellow. In severe cases the plants present a scorched appearance and the rhizome yield is reduced. The disease can be controlled by spraying mancozeb 0.2%. Leaf spot Leaf spot is caused by Colletotrichum capsici and appears as brown spotsof various sizes on the upper surface of the young leaves. The spots are irregular in shape and white or grey in the centre. Later, two or more spots may coalesce
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
and form an irregular patch covering almost the whole leaf. The affected leaves eventually dry up. The rhizomes do not develop well. The disease can be controlled by spraying carbendazim (0.5 kg/ha) or mancozeb (0.2 %) or copper oxychloride (0.2%). Leaf blight Leaf blight is caused by Rhizoctonia solani. The disease is characterized by the appearance of necrotic patches with papery white centre of varying sizes on the lamina which spread on the whole surface leaving a blighted appearance. The disease occurs during the post monsoon season. The disease can be controlled by spraying Bavistin 0.2% or Bordeaux mixture1% with the initiation of infection.
Nematode pests Root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and burrowing nematode(Radopholussimilis) are the two important nematodes causing damageto turmeric. Root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) are of commonoccurrence in Andhra Pradesh. In places where nematode problems arecommon, use only healthy, nematodefree planting material. Increasingthe organic content of the soil also checks the multiplication of nematodes.Pochonia chlamydosporia can be applied to the beds at the time of sowing@ 20 g/bed (106 cfu/g) for management of nematode problems. Insect pests Shoot borer The shoot borer (Conogethespunctiferalis)
42 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
India’s Only Monthly for Agro, Processed Food & Allied Sector
10 successful years of operations, 1,80,000 readers across the country Gateway to B2B business opportunities Your messenger to the fastest growing Agro & Processed Food Industry in the world Direct reach to thousands top brands of Agro & Processed Food Industry in the world Available free e-copy to millions of readers across the world on, agronfoodprocessing.com
Advance A Publication of
INFO MEDIA & EVENTS
121, 1st Floor, Rassaz Multiplex, Station Road, Mira Road (E) Thane - 401107. Tel: +91-22-28555069 / 28115068 Email: info@advanceinfomedia.com. Web: www.agronfoodprocessing.com.
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
43 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
is the most serious pest of turmeric. The larvae bore into pseudo stems and feed on internal tissues.The presence of a borehole on the pseudo stem through which frass is extruded and the withered central shoot is a characteristic symptom ofpest infestation. The adult is a medium sized moth with a wingspan ofabout 20 mm; the wings are orange-yellow with minute black spots. Fully-grown larvae are light brown with sparse hairs. Management • Spray malathion (0.1%) or lamdacyhalothrin (0.0125%) at 21 days intervals during July to October. • Initiate spraying when the first symptom of pest attack is seen onthe inner most leaf. Rhizome scale The rhizome scale (Aspidiellahartii) infests rhizomes in the field (at laterstages of the crop) and in storage. Adult (female) scales are circular (about1mm diameter) and light brown to grey and appear as encrustations on the rhizomes. They feed on sap and when the rhizomes are severely infested, they become shrivelled and desiccated affecting its germination. Management • Adapt timely harvest of rhizomes • Before storage, discard severely infested rhizomes • Treat seed material with quinalphos (0.075%) (for 20-30 minutes) before storage and also before sowing in case the infestation persists.Store rhizomes in sawdust along with dried leaves of
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
Strychnos nuxvomica. Minor pests Adults and larvae of leaf feeding beetles such as Lema spp. feed on leave sespecially during the monsoon season and form elongated parallel feeding marks on them. Spraying of malathion (0.1%) undertaken for the management of shoot borer is sufficient to manage this pest.The lacewing bug (Stephanitistypicus) infests the foliage causing themto turn pale and dry up. The pest infestation is more common during the post monsoon period especially in drier regions of the country. Spraying dimethoate (0.05%) is effective in managing the pest.The turmeric thrips (Panchaetothrips indicus) infests the leaves causing them to roll, turn pale and gradually dry up. The pest infestation is morecommon during the post monsoon period especially in drier regions ofthe country. Spraying dimethoate (0.05%) is effective for the managementof the pest.
SPICE Organic production Conversion plan For certified organic production, at least 18 months the crop should beunder organic management i.e. only the second crop of turmeric can besold as organic. The conversion period may be relaxed if the organic farmis being established on a land where chemicals were not previously used,provided sufficient proof of history of the area is available. It is desirable that organic method of production is followed in the entire farm; but inthe case of large extent of area, the transition can be done in a phased manner for which a conversion plan has to be prepared.Turmeric as a best component crop in agri-horti and silvihortisystems, recycling of farm waste can be effectively done when grown with coconut, arecanut, mango, Leucaena, rubber etc. As a mixed crop itcan also be grown or rotated with green manure/ legumes crops or trapcrops enabling effective nutrient built up and pest or disease control.When grown in a mixed cultivation system, it is essential that all thecrops in the field are also subjected to organic methods of production.In order to avoid contamination of organically cultivated plots from neighboring nonorganic farms, a suitable buffer zone with definite border is to be maintained. Crop grown on this isolation belt can not be treated as organic. In sloppy lands adequate precaution should be taken to avoid the entry of runoff water and chemical drift from the neighboring farms. Proper soil and water conservation measures by making conservation pits in
44 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
SPICE oftrace elements become yield limiting, restricted use of mineral/chemicals ources of micronutrients by soil application or foliar spray are allowed as per the limits of standard setting or certifying organizations. Further,supplementation of oil cakes like neem cake (2 t/ha), composted coir pith(5 t/ha) and suitable microbial cultures of Azospirillum and phosphate solubilizing bacteria will improve the fertility and yield.
the interspaces of beds across the slope have to be followed to minimize the erosion and run off. Water stagnation hasto be avoided in the low lying fields by taking deep trenches for drainage. Management practices For organic production, traditional varieties adapted to the local soil and climatic conditions that are resistant or tolerant to diseases, pests and nematode infection should be used. All crop residues and farm wastes like green loppings, crop residues, grasses, cow dung slurry, poultry droppings etc. available on the farm can be recycled through composting,including vermicomposting so that soil fertility is maintained at high level. No synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides are allowed under organic system. Farmyard manure may be applied @ 40 t/ha along with vermi compost @ 5-10 t/ha and mulching with green leaves@ 12-15 t ha-1 at 45 days intervals. Based on soil test, application of lime/dolomite, rock phosphate and wood ash has to be done to get required quantity of phosphorus and potassium. When the deficient conditions
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
Use of botanicals, biocontrol agents, cultural and phytosanitary measures for the management of insect pests and diseases forms the main strategy under organic system. Spraying Neemgold 0.5% or neemoil0.5% during July-October (at 21 day intervals) is effective against theshoot borer.Selection of healthy rhizomes, soil solarization and incorporation ofTrichoderma, seed treatment and soil application of biocontrol agents like Trichoderma or Pseudomonas multiplied in suitable carrier media such ascoir pith compost, well rotten cow dung or quality neem
cake may bedone at the time of sowing and at regular intervals to keep the rhizomerot disease in check. To control other foliar diseases spraying of Bord eauxmixture 1% may be done restricting the quantity to 8 kg copper perhectare per annum. Application of quality neem cake mentioned earlieralong with the bioagents Pochonia chlamydosporia will be useful to checkthe nematode population. Certification Under organic farming, processing methods also should be based onmechanized, physical and biological processes to maintain the vitalquality of organic ingredient through out each step of its processing. All the ingredients and additives used in processing should be of agriculture origin and certified organic. In cases where an ingredient of organic agriculture origin is not available in sufficient quality or quantity, the certification programme authorizes use of non organic raw materials subject to periodic re-evaluation.Labeling should clearly indicate the organic status of the productas “produce of organic agriculture� or a similar description when the standards requirements are fulfilled. Moreover organic and non-organic products should not be stored and transported together except when labeled or physically separated.
45 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
SPICE aeration. The rhizomes are to be dipped inquinalphos (0.075%) solution for 20-30 minutes if scale infestations are observed and in mancozeb (0.3%) to avoid storage losses due to fungi. Post harvest processing The harvested turmeric rhizomes before entering into the market isconverted into a stable commodity through a number of post harvest processing operations like boiling, drying and polishing. Boiling of turmeric is taken up within 3 or 4 days after harvest. The fingers and bulbs (or mother rhizomes) are separated and are cured separately, since the latter take a little longer to cook. The dry recovery of the different turmeric varieties vary widely ranging from 19 to 23%.
Certification and labeling is usually done by an independent bodyto provide a guarantee that the production standards are met. Govt.of India has taken steps to have indigenous certification system tohelp small and marginal growers and to issue valid organic certificates through certifying agencies accredited by APEDA and Spices Board.The inspectors appointed by the certification agencies will carry out inspection of the farm operations through records maintained and byperiodic site inspections. Documentation of farm activities is must foracquiring certification especially when both conventional and organic crops are raised. Group certification programmes are also available for organized group of producers and processors with similar production systems located in geographical proximity. Harvesting and processing Well managed turmeric crop is ready for harvest in seven to nine months depending on the variety and time of sowing. The crop is generally harvested during January to March. On maturity, the leaves turn dryand are light brown to yello wish in colour. In Kerala, turmeric is grownin raised beds and harvesting is done either manually or by using atractor. In case of manual harvesting, the land is ploughed, the clumpsare carefully lifted with spade and the rhizomes are gathered by hand picking. Harvesting with a
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
tractor attached to a turmeric harvester is followed when the raised beds are taken using a tractor. The harvested rhizomes are collected manually and all the extraneous matter adhering to them is cleared. Preservation of seed rhizomes Rhizomes for seed purpose are generally stored by heaping in well ventilated rooms and covered with turmeric leaves. The seed rhizomescan also be stored in pits with saw dust, sand along with leaves of Stychnosnux-vomica (Kanjiram). The pits are to be covered with wooden planks with one or two openings for
Boiling Boiling is the first post harvest operation to be performed at the farm level which involves cooking of fresh rhizomes in water until soft before drying. Boiling destroys the vitality of fresh rhizomes, avoids the raw odour, reduces the drying time and yields uniformly coloured product.In the traditional method, a vessel made of galvanized iron sheet isused for turmeric boiling. Boiling of turmeric rhizomes is carried out till froth forms and white fumes come out of the pan with a characteristic odour. Boiling is considered complete by pressing a pointed stick in to the rhizomes with slight pressure. The other indications of
46 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
SPICE done by one. For the next batch, about 20 litres of water is added to the outer drum, depending on the water lost by evaporation. The next batchof rhizomes is loaded in all the drums and heating is continued. At the end of the boiling process, all the drums need to be cleaned free of mudand soil to avoid damage and enhance the life of the gadget. The capacity of the boiler is about 100 kg per batch and the fuel requirement is 70 – 75kg of agricultural waste materials.
the completion of boiling process are softness and easy breaking of rhizomes when pressed between the fore finger and thumb and a yellow interior instead of redone. An effective cooking time of 45 to 60 minutes for fingers and 90 minutes for mother rhizomes is considered essential. Over cooking and under cooking are found to affect the quality of the rhizome. Improved turmeric boiler using steam boiling technique is followed when large quantities of turmeric are to be cured. The TNAU model ofimproved steam boiler for turmeric consists of a trough, inner perforated drums and lid. The outer drum is made of 18 SWG thick mild steel to asize of 122 x 122 x 55 cm. A lid is provided with hooks for easy lifting and also provided with an inspection door. For easy draining and cleaning, an outlet is placed at the bottom of the drum. Four numbers of inner drums of 48 x 48 x 45 cm size are provided in the outer drum. The capacity off our inner drum is 100 kg. The inner drums are provided with a leg fora height of 10 cm, so that the rhizomes will not come in contact with water filled for about 6-8 cm depth in the outer drum. The outer drumis placed with more than half of its depth below the ground level by digging a pit, which serves as a furnace. This furnace is provided with two openings, one for feeding the fuel and the other one for removing the ash and unburnt.After placing the turmeric boiler in the furnace, about 75 litres ofwater is
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
added (6-8 cm depth). About 55 - 70 kg of well washed rhizomeis taken in each inner drum and placed in the boiler and the lid is placed in position. Using the available agricultural waste materials, mostly, the turmeric leaves, fire is put in the furnace. During the boiling process,it takes about 25 minutes to produce steam and boil the initial batch ofrhizomes and 10 - 15 minutes for the subsequent batches. Through the inspection door, the stage of boiling of the rhizome is assessed by pressing the rhizomes with a hard pin / needle.Using a long pole, the lid is removed and the inner drums are lifte
Drying The cooked fingers are dried in the sun by spreading in 5-7 cm thick layers on the drying floor. A thin layer is not desirable, as the colour of the dried product may be adversely affected. During night time, the material should be heaped or covered. It may take 10-15 days for the rhizome to become completely dry. The bulbs and fingers are dried separately, the former takes more time to dry. Turmeric should be driedon clean surface to ensure that the product does not get contaminated by extraneous matter. Care should be taken to avoid mould growth onthe rhizomes. Rhizomes are turned intermittently to ensure uniformityin drying. Solar tunnel driers covered by UV stabilized semi-transparentpoly film sheet of 200 microns thickness can also be used for drying of turmeric. The solar
47 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
SPICE phase of polishing. Cleaning, grading, packing and Storage Although Indian turmeric is considered to be the best in the world, about 90% of the total produce is consumed internally and only a small portion of the production is exported. Turmeric of commerce is described in three ways: Fingers: These are the lateral branches or secondary ‘daughter’ rhizomes which are detached from the central rhizome before curing.Fingers usually range in size from 2.5 to 7.5 cm in length and may be over 1 cm in diameter.
radiation is transmitted through plastic sheet, whichhas a transmissivity of 90%. The UV sheet is transparent to the short waveradiations and opaque to long wave radiations. During the sunshine hours the short wave radiations are entrapped through the UV sheet, heated by the black absorber at the bottom and is converted into long wave radiation. This conversion of short wave radiation to long wave radiation causes anincrease in the temperature inside the drier. Heat is transferred from the absorber to the air above the absorber. The heated air from the bottom while passing over the products absorbs the moisture. Solar radiation which passes through the transparent cover of the drier, also heats the products in the drier. This enhances the temperature and drying rate ofthe produce inside the drier than in the ambient condition.The yield of the dry product varies from 20-25% depending upon the variety and the location where the crop is grown. The starch gelatinized during boiling shrink and during the drying process intercellular space sincrease, enhancing water diffusion and reducing the drying time. Polishing and colouring Dried turmeric has poor appearance and rough dull outer surface with scales and root bits. The appearance is improved by smoothening and polishing the outer surface by manual or mechanical rubbing. Polishingis done till the recommended
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
polish of 7-8% is achieved. Usually 5 to 8%of the weight of turmeric is the polishing wastage during full polishingand 2 to 3% during half polishing. Polishing of dried turmeric also helps in removing the wrinkles.Manual polishing consists of rubbing the dried turmeric fingers on ahard surface. Manual polishing gives rough appearance and dull colour to the dried rhizome. Sometimes, undesirable colouring materials are added during polishing to improve the colour and appearance. But this is not recommended. In an improved method, polishing is done by using hand operated barrel or drum mounted on a central axis, the sides of which are made of expanded metal screen. When the drum filled with turmeric is rotated, polishing is effected by abrasion of the surface against each other as they roll inside the drum. The turmeric is also polished inpower operated drums. Large scale polishing units with capacity to polish 500 to 1000 kgper batch is used for polishing turmeric rhizomes at commercial units.It takes about 4560 minutes per batch and about 4% is wasted as dust.The colour of the processed turmeric influences the price of the produce. Hence, to obtain attractive product, turmeric powder is sprinkled during the last
Bulbs: These are central ‘mother’ rhizomes, which are ovate in shapeand are of shorter length and having larger diameter than thefingers. Splits: Splits are the bulbs that have been split into halves or quarters to facilitate curing and subsequent drying. Turmeric being a natural produce, is bound to gather contaminants during various stages of processing. The spice is also cleaned to remove such foreign materials. A sifter, destoner, and an air screen separator will help remove materials such as stones, dead insects, excreta, and other extraneous matter. Cleaned and graded material is packed generally in new double burlap gunny bags and stored over wooden pallets in a cool,dry place protected from light. The stores should be clean and free from infestation of pests and harborage of rodents. It is not recommended to apply pesticides on the dried/polished turmeric to prevent storage pests. Source: www.spices.res.in
48 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
NEW MUSTARD
I Does India Need Transgenic Mustard?
ndian researchers can and will eventually develop high-yielding mustard hybrids through non transgenic means. Still, India will need transgenic mustard as an alternative. Does India need transgenic mustard at all? If supporters of the technology believe it will help dent India’s massive edible-oil import bill by ramping up mustard-oil production, opponents say we could do the same without any help from transgenics. How tenable are either of these arguments? And is transgenic mustard, with its promised yield of around 30% more than that of pure varieties of mustard, going to
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
49 www.agronfoodprocessing.com solve India’s edible-oil woes? The answer isn’t straightforward. First, Indian farmers will need a lot more than transgenics to really ramp up oil production. The real problem with mustard productivity in India today is yield gaps: the difference between the potential yield of mustard crops under ideal circumstances and the yields that farmers are able to realise on their fields. This difference exists because Indian farmers are unable to follow good practices of cultivation such as irrigation, seed replacement and fertiliser use. The new transgenic mustard is likely to be plagued by the same problems, and this means it may not really be a gamechanger. But there is more to the transgenic mustard, called DMH-11, than high yields alone. The genetic engineering used to create DMH-11 provides plant breeders with a new method of hybridising mustard. It may now be possible to create hybrids that were tough to make with conventional methods, such as hybrids that are resistant to drought and disease. Each of these traits could potentially change farm economics the way Bt Cotton’s pest resistance did. It is here that the true promise of transgenic mustard lies. Can we replicate the yellow revolution through protectionism? India has a big edible-oil problem. It imports over 60% of what it consumes at a cost of around $10 billion each year, a huge drain on its forex reserves. This is because we aren’t very competitive in growing oilseeds, with mustard productivity lagging some way behind world averages. Ramping up mustard production will bring down mustard oil prices, increase its consumption among price-sensitive users, and dent the edibleoil bill to some extent. But opponents of transgenic mustard say that DMH-11, the hybrid developed by Delhi University professor Deepak Pental, isn’t required to hike mustard production. As evidence of this, they point to a period between 1986 and 1994 called the ‘yellow revolution’, when India
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
NEW MUSTARD
boosted edible-oil production through policies that favoured farmers. Dismayed by India’s massive import bill, the then primeminister Rajiv Gandhi launched the Technology Mission on Oilseeds, under which farmers were provided with extension services. New, high-yielding crop varieties were developed and a high minimum support price (MSP) was offered to farmers to encourage them to grow oil seeds. Moreover, India put edible oil on the negative list, meaning nobody could import it except state agencies. These policies worked their magic and the country increased edibleoil production from 12.2 million tons in 1986 to 21 million tons in 1995, turning from a net importer to an exporter during this period. The era’s end was heralded 1994, when India’s commitments to the World Trade Organisation forced it to lower trade barriers, and the tables were turned again. Low-cost palm oil began flooding India from southeast Asian nations and the resulting crash in market prices pushed farmers out of oilseeds. Today, we are back to an edible-oil deficit. The question then is: if India raised import tariffs on edible oil again and incentivised farmers to grow oilseeds, could we get back to the golden age of edible-oil surpluses? This argument doesn’t hold water because it ignores an unfortunate side-effect of the yellow revolution, says Amarendra Reddy, an agricultural economist who studies oilseeds at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi. Much of the increase in production during this period was driven by an increase in cultivated farmland – not just by an increase in productivity. In fact, a World Bank report argued that the protectionism had diverted land that would have been more profitably used for productive crops to oilseeds, in which India did not have a comparative advantage. “What happened was that, even though we were not competitive in edible oil, and our cost of production was
very high, we were still producing a lot. We didn’t have the required technology or natural resources,” says Reddy. The high cost of production drove up prices for consumers. As a result, oil consumption in India hardly grew during this time, inching up by about 0.5%, with the poor being worst hit by the high prices. It was only when India began dropping import barriers in 1994 that cheap imports brought some relief to consumers. This is why, according to Reddy, there are two things to keep in mind while deciding on trade policy: “Farmers should get a remunerative rate but consumers should also get oil at a reasonable rate.” The only way to achieve this is through extension services and technology. Extension services are necessary to close the gap between yield potential and actual yield. They would include educating farmers on and financing the use of fertilisers, and encouraging the replacement of seeds. Indian farmers are averse to buying certified seeds periodically, choosing instead to depend on saved seeds from the last season. This is a problem because the quality of seeds deteriorates after a few seasons, and anything from adverse weather to physical damage can hurt its ability to germinate and grow. But the lack of quality seeds in the market, poor awareness, and poverty keeps farmers from replacing seeds. Timely seed replacement alone could increase oilseed yields in India by about 10%, according to Sant Kumar Pandey, an agricultural economist at the National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, Delhi. And yet, there is only so much extension
50 www.agronfoodprocessing.com act as a female parent. Next, another gene from wild mustard, which can reverse the pollen sterility caused by the first gene, is transferred to another variety of Brassica juncea, which becomes the male parent. These two are then crossed to create a hybrid of both Brassica varieties.
services can do. Once the pure varieties of mustard that India grows hit their maximum yield potential, India will need hybrids that out-yield these varieties. Hybrids of genetically diverse parents tend to outperform their parents on traits such as yield, in a phenomenon known as heterosis. Much of the yield growth achieved today by the world’s largest canola (a relative of mustard) producers, Canada and Germany, has come from hybrids. Why can’t conventional breeding give us the hybrids we need? It is true that the new hybrids India desperately needs can be created through conventional technologies. The only problem is that such a hybrid is taking a long time coming. Conventional hybridisation systems work like this: mustard produces perfect flowers, or flowers that have both male anthers and female pistils. This makes it difficult for breeders to hand-pollinate one mustard variety with another to make hybrids, because the proximity between the pollen-producing anthers and eggcontaining pistil causes a mustard variety to fertilise itself. To overcome this problem without using transgenics, breeders turn to a gene in wild mustard that impedes pollen formation. This gene, which occurs in the cell’s cytoplasm, is transferred to cultivated mustard by repeatedly crossing both plants. The cultivated mustard, known as Brassica juncea, now stops making pollen and can
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
This cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) system took a long time to develop because of its many challenges, says A.K. Singh, head of the genetics division at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Delhi, and a mustard breeder. First, transferring cytoplasmic male sterility from wild species to cultivated ones is extremely difficult because wild species don’t cross easily with cultivated ones. “Therefore, approaches such as embryo rescue and tissue culture had to be used. This was a long-running research program at the IARI,” explains Singh. Even after they were crossed, the resulting male and female parents didn’t always turn out perfect. Flowers on some would be deformed and unable to attract bees for pollination while the leaves on others would be discoloured. This stalled the development of CMS systems further. But after many years of work, Indian researchers finally overcame these challenges and four CMS systems, which borrow male sterility from various wild mustard species, are on the menu for plant breeders. A couple of publicly-developed hybrids based on them are also in the market. Unfortunately, these hybrids don’t make the cut. The first of these hybrids, DMH-1 (a predecessor of DMH-11), was developed by Pental and borrows the male-sterility gene from a Brassica napusmustard variety. The gene is introduced into the female parent of DMH-11, an Indian Brassica juncea variety called Pusa Bold. Next, Pusa Bold is hybridised with an eastern European variety of mustard called EH-2, which is naturally able to reverse the sterility induced by the CMS gene. Pusa Bold and EH-2 make a good couple: when hybridised, they show high heterosis and enhance the traits of their parents. As a result, DMH-1, the progeny
NEW MUSTARD of Pusa and EH-2, gives between 28% and 34% more yield than pure mustard varieties. DMH-1 could have been the hybrid Indian farmers were waiting for – except that Pental’s team is unable to produce enough seed to grow this hybrid using CMS systems. Sterility often breaks down while growing the mustard for seed production, especially in frosty weather, Pental says. When this happens, the female parent pollinates itself, shortcircuiting the hybridisation process. As a result, only around 85% of the seeds produced are pure hybrid seeds. Such a low level of seed purity is unusual for hybrids, with the department of agriculture typically requiring at least 95% purity. But because mustard CMS systems struggle with this problem, the department lowered the mandated purity for mustard hybrids to 85 percent in 2014. Impure seeds mean that seed makers for DMH-1 are able to produce enough for only about a quarter of a million hectares, out of the six million on which mustard is grown in India. The second problem with the CMS system Pental has been using is that it doesn’t work with a female parent other than Pusa Bold. “When we try to introduce other traits such as disease resistance, sterility breaks down again. This means that the possibility of improved hybrids with this CMS system is very much reduced.” Pental believes DMH-1 is as far as his cytoplasmic male-sterility system can go, and that it is time to try transgenics. “We know that DMH 1 will remain stuck here, and we may not be able to take it forward. That is why we have been shouting from the rooftops that we need a more robust hybridisation system.” Other researchers agree that perfecting CMS systems is a long-drawn exercise. According to TrilochanMohapatra, who heads the Indian Council of Agricultural Research , CMS systems in mustard sometimes suffer from seed purity issues of the sort Pental is facing. “These problems can be overcome, but it needs a lot of work.” If Pental’s system has hit a wall, the other
51 www.agronfoodprocessing.com Indian CMS systems are yet to churn out noteworthy hybrids.
mustard can reach more farmers than its predecessor ever did.
One such system is Moricandia, which borrows the sterility gene from a wild Brassica species called Moricandiaarvensis. S.R. Bhat, a plant biologist at the National Research Centre for Plant Biotechnology, who helped developed it says Moricandia works smoothly and can be used with any mustard variety, unlike Pental’s system. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has even developed a hybrid called NRCHB 506 using the Moricandiasystem.
In time, it is certain that India will launch high-yielding hybrids through nontransgenic systems such as Moricandia. But when we do, we will still be better off holding on to alternatives such as DMH-11, say researchers. When it comes to hybrids, more is always merrier. Singh points to the catastrophic attack of southern corn leaf blight, a fungal disease that destroyed large tracts of corn fields across the US corn belt in 1970, as an example of what can happen when a single CMS system is deployed over a large area. During this period, nearly 80% of the corn belt grew hybrids developed with CMS borrowed from a Texan variety of corn. But the cytoplasm that carried the male-sterility gene also carried a gene that made these crops susceptible to the blight. When the disease broke out, it wiped out much of the belt and forced breeders to stop using the Texan malesterility system. To depend on one or two CMS systems
But NRCHB isn’t popular in India because its yields are not as high as Pental’s DMH1. One reason for this is that NRCHB is a hybrid of two Indian varieties of mustard that do not show as much heterosis as the varieties Pental chose. The chief developer of NRCHB, K.H. Singh at Rajasthan’s Directorate of RapeseedMustard Research, also admits that they are having trouble producing enough seed for this hybrid. Experiments are now on to hybridise other more heterotic parents using the Moridcandiasystem. But no such hybrid is in the market yet. Improving hybrids is a gradual and complex process, says Bhat. “It takes a lot of time. The first generation of hybrids is never the best. Once they come, there is further improvement.” He points to the example of Germany which took over a decade to perfect its CMS systems and make hybrids with them. India mustard researchers are climbing up their own excruciating learning curve today, as Germany did in the late nineties. This is where transgenics can play a role in speeding things up. DMH-11, the transgenic hybrid developed by Pental, hybridises an Indian mustard variety called Varuna with the east European EH-2, but turns to genetic engineering to overcome the problems that plagued predecessor DMH-1. Pental says the new method is able to produce pure seed almost 99% of the time, a huge jump over DMH-1. This means the transgenic
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
to create hybrids would leave us open to such disasters. This is one reason why India must keep transgenics in its arsenal, even if it has conventional options. “All said and done, transgenic mustard is an alternative system. When you can afford to have fifty different brands of cars, each with its merits and demerits, why can’t you have different varieties of crops?” asks Singh. Will farmers use DMH-11? All these advantages of transgenic mustard won’t amount to much if farmers do not cotton to it. Some agro-economists ask if the 30% yield hike offered by transgenic mustard will cut it for farmers. For any
NEW MUSTARD new hybrid to be adopted, its benefits must greatly outweigh the cost of seed and cost of inputs, both of which tend to be high for hybrids. The reason why hybrids have found favour with maize farmers, says Reddy, is because they multiply yields by between two and three times, allowing costs to be recovered. Bt Cotton hybrids were a grand success for the same reason: even though the seeds cost more, farmers were able to forego the use of pesticide against the pink bollworm, typically a big part of their expenditure. It isn’t known yet how much DMH-11 seeds will cost, although Pental has said that the hybrid can be grown using the same fertiliser and pesticide inputs as pure varieties. Reddy says it is important that these costs remain low; else farmers may not want to make a switch because “thirty percent is not a big yield jump.” These questions can be answered only after all data on DMH-11 becomes public. This is another issue. One of the reasons farmers did not adopt the DMH-1 or the NRCHB, mustard researchers say, is that these varieties produced small seeds. Even though the size of the seed does not affect oil content, farmers continued to irrationally favour bolder seeds. “It is a perception issue,” says A.K. Singh. “Brokers are used to buying a particular type of seed. It is not easy to change perception in the market.” Unless farmers are educated about such fallacies, they may stay away from transgenic mustard as well. Pental sees other answers to the problem. It is possible, he says, to develop hybrids with bolder seeds using a transgenic approach because certain East European varieties of mustard do have this feature. He has already begun work on hybrids that can take yields beyond what DMH11 can hit. “Nothing is fixed for all time to come,” he says, “If people don’t like DMH 11, they can use our system to make better hybrids then we have. Who is stopping them?”
52 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
NEWS
360 soil testing labs to be operational in 2016-17
S
oil Health Card (SHC) Scheme is an important scheme of the Government. It aims at promoting soil test based and balanced use of fertilisers, so that the farmer can realise higher yields at lower cost. Simultaneously, soil health can be sustained. Earlier soil health cards were being given to farmers. However, these were largely the initiatives of State Governments, implemented over varying periods of time. These initiatives were sporadic and random and therefore did not cover all the farmers within a particular time cycle. The approach also was not comprehensive in term of procedure for collection of soil samples and standards for soil test. It was limit to, assisting the State Governments for Static Soil Testing Laboratories (SSTLs) and Mobile Soil Testing Laboratories (MSTLs). Earlier Government of India has never provided any assistance to the State Governments to undertake collection of soil samples and their analysis. As seen a major threat towards deteriorating soil health, there has never been comprehensive ‘Soil Health Card’ Scheme of the magnitude that Government launched in the year 201415 to provide SHC to all 14 crore farmers once in a cycle of 2 years, on a continuous basis. Comprehensive testing of soil samples for 12 parameters including micro-nutrients is being carried out under the scheme. The first cycle of the scheme will be completed in 2 years (2015-16 & 2016-17) with an outlay of Rs 568.54 crore. The target for the year 2015-16 is to collect 104 lakh soil samples and test
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
them for issue of Soil Health Cards to farmers. More than 90 per cent samples have been collected in states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Telangana, Sikkim, Gujarat, Bihar, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh. Out of 90 lakh samples collected 60 lakh soil samples have been tested so far. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Tripura and Kerala have
guidelines for Establishment of Soil Testing Projects at Village level under Soil Health Management (SHM) Scheme of National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) to generate employment for rural youth and to improve timeliness in analysis of soil samples under Soil Health Card Scheme. The guidelines of the scheme have been amended to set up soil testing labs as well as mini labs through Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) implemented through NABARD. The guidelines have been modified to involve science students of Agriculture and other science colleges in soil health card programme. The States by now have distributed 1.47 crore soil health cards and 1.53 crore cards are under printing. 30 lakh samples are under analysis & they will be completed and 150 lakh cards will be printed. That is, in 2015-16 a total of 450 lakh cards will be distributed to farmers.
taken soil analysis in a big way and completed the targets between 75 per cent to 100 per cent. States like Bihar, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Mizoram, Haryana, Manipur, Assam, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh are lagging behind. In 2016-17, 360 number of additional soil test laboratories will be made operational to test major and micro nutrients. This will increase the annual analysing capacity of state laboratories from 1.78 crore to 2.14 crore. All the District Collectors in all states have been asked to implement the latest
The States of Himachal Pradesh & Sikkim have completed their two years target for sample collection. 1. The 2015-16 sample collection targets have been completed by Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Telangana, Sikkim & Gujarat. 2. The States with very good performance (above 90 per cent) are Bihar, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Odisha. 3. The States with good performance (above 75 per cent) are Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Rajasthan. 4. The remaining lagging States are Karnataka, Assam, Manipur, Haryana, Mizoram, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.
53 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
NEWS
The power of prebiotics – Taste and explore BENEO’s dietary fibres from nature for a healthy digestive system
F
IC 2016, Shanghai (23rd – 25th March), Hall 5, Booth 51T11 BENEO, one of the leading manufacturers of functional ingredients is showcasing its range of prebiotic dietary fibres at this year’s Food Ingredients China (FIC) in Shanghai from 23rd – 25th March 2016. A comprehensive body of scientific studies confirms that BENEO’s prebiotics improve digestive health and are supporting consumers’ overall wellbeing. Globally 87 percent of the consumers are interested in food and beverage products supporting digestive health. Mintel research shows that between 2013 and 2015, 16 percent of functional claims globally were about digestive health, making it one of the most important functional claims. In China nearly every third consumer aged 20-49 has digestive problems such as stomach ache, indigestion or constipation. With 15.3 percent, China belongs to the countries with the highest number of constipated people in Asia. In particular, infants, children aged 6-18 and elderly are affected. Consumers are aware of the beneficial role dietary fibre intake has on their digestive system and that it contributes to
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
their overall wellbeing. However, even with a healthy nutrition rich in fruits, vegetable and wholegrain, people are struggling to consume the amount recommended by the World Health Organisation and national health authorities: In China the actual intake of dietary fibre is approx. 13g/day while the recommendation is 25g/ day. This difference is called the “fibre-gap”. BENEO’s dietary fibres Orafti® Inulin and Orafti® Oligofructose have shown to improve digestive health by stimulating bowel function in a natural and mild manner. BENEO’s dietary fibres also belong to very few scientifically proven prebiotics. Being prebiotic they multiply and grow bifidus bacteria – the good bacteria in the large intestine, avoiding harmful strains and thus helping to build a strong digestive system. They are soluble fibres and can be easily incorporated into a wide range of products while maintaining taste and texture. Christian Philippsen, Managing Director BENEO Asia Pacific: “BENEO’s prebiotic fibres are made by nature and gained from chicory root via a gentle hot water extraction method. With 8 out of 10 Chinese consumers actively looking for natural ingredients, our inulin and oligofructose are ‘on trend’ for providing digestive health, naturally. In combination with the solid basis of science, manufacturers can make the most of the consumers’ demand for products supporting a healthy digestive system.” Visitors to BENEO’s booth will also
be able to sample appealing product concepts with BENEO’s naturally derived prebiotic fibres inulin and oligofructose. Fibre Gummies – Containing BENEO’s prebiotic fibres Orafti® Inulin and Oligofructose these gummies support digestive health in a convenient and tasty way. Additionally they come with a soft and chewy texture and great taste, which makes it a joy for young kids and adults to boost dietary fibre intake while enjoying a fruity snack. Cereal Bars – Incorporating BENEO’s natural dietary fibre Orafti® Inulin, the cereal bars help to support a healthy and balanced digestive system. At the same time this healthy daily snack is sugar reduced but conveys the same texture and sensorial mouthfeel as a full sugar equivalent. Healthy Grain Biscuits – Enriched with the natural fibre Orafti® Inulin, these grain biscuits become a great source of whole grains and prebiotic fibre to help consumers boost their daily fibre intake and maintain a healthy digestive system. This way they are perfectly in line with the growing popularity of healthy biscuits as a convenient food to curb hunger pangs while enjoying guiltless indulgence. Learn more hands on – BENEO’s experts will also be sharing their knowledge in nutrition science and expertise in food application within a technical seminar titled “Improving digestive health with inulin & oligofructose”. They will be having an interactive discussion with participants to explain how BENEO’s prebiotic fibres are prefect solutions to support a healthy digestive system. The seminar will be held on 24th March 2016, 1.30pm at meeting room M6-02. For further information on BENEO and its ingredients, visit BENEO at Hall 5, Booth 51T11.
54 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
NEWS
AFSTI spreads awareness on new FSSAI Draft Notifications & Amendments
I
n order to dissipate awareness on Notifications and Amendments made by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently, a National Seminar was conducted related to many notifications aimed to focus on the way forward for the industry while complying with those new regulations. The event was graced by Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI; Ajit Kumar, vicechancellor, NIFTEM; and Dr Narpinder Singh, president, AFSTI- HQ; Prabodh Halde, President, AFST(I) among others. The seminar was conducted by Association of Food Scientist & Technologists of India, Mumbai Chapter (AFSTI) with support of different apex organisations of the food industry such as All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA), Confederation of Indian Food Trade and Industry (CIFTI-FICCI), Protein Foods and Nutrition Development Association of India (PFNDAI), Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEAI), Retailers Association of India (RAI) and many more. “Around 210 participants took part in the seminar which was way beyond from our expectations. We consider the figure to be a good sign as we expected only
around 50-100”, Dr Nilesh Amritkar, Vice-President, The Association of Food Scientists and Technologists India (AFSTI), Mumbai Chapter informed Beverages and Food Processing Times over telephone. Dr Amritkar explained that the seminar was categorised into two parts; the first included the facilitation of Dr G D Yadav, Vice-Chancellor, University Departmant of Chemical Technology (UDCT) on account of reviving Padma Shri which is the fourth highest civilian award of India and Annasaheb Chakote, Chairman, Ganesh Bakery and Chakote Group of Industries for his achievements and contributions in the bakery industry. Speakers presented their views on various topics such as Draft notification on amendment of Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 related to Microbiological Standards of Fish and Fishery Products, Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2016 related to Proprietary Food, Notice for operationalisation of Food safety and Standards (Food Import) Regulations, Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues)
(Amendment) Regulation, 2015 regarding limit of biotoxins in fish and fish products, Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) (Amendment) Regulation,2016 regarding standards of Melamine in Milk and Milk Products, Draft Food Safety and Standards, (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment, Regulations, 2015 related to Pharmacologically active substance prohibited for fish and fishery products; Harmonization of Pesticides, Antibiotics and Veterinary Drugs Residues; Fixation of MRLs for 17 pesticides, Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) (Amendment) Regulation,2015 regarding crop contaminants and naturally occurring toxic substances, Food Safety and Standards (Contaminant, Toxin and Residues) Amendment Regulation, 2015, regarding standards of Naturally Occurring Toxic Substances in Foods. Notice for operationalisation of standards of Food Additive for use in various Food Categories. A panel discussed was also conducted involving various representatives from Food Authority, Private Organisations and Senior Food Regulatory Experts who encouraged views from the academia and industry.
Above 68% of milk in India does stand by FSSAI standards
A
bove 68 per cent of milk in India, does not stand up to the standards laid down by the food regulator and the most common adulterant found in it is detergent, caustic soda, glucose, white paint and refined oil considered “very hazardous” which could cause serious ailments, according to Science
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan .
tampered with.
He added that a new scanner has been developed which can detect adulteration in milk in 40 seconds and can even pinpoint the adulterant.
There are two lakh villages in the country from where milk is collected.
Though the scanners are costly as of now, each test costs a mere 10 paisa and Vardhan further added that the near future, GPS-based technology could be used to track the exact location where the milk supplied in the cold chain has been
55 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
NEWS
Govt covers 68 crore natives for subsidized foodgrains under NFSA: Ram Vilas Paswan
T
he Government of India has accorded high priority to the issue of hunger and malnutrition in the country and is implementing several schemes/programmes through State Governments/UT Administrations to improve food security situation in the country. These include Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) for providing Supplementary Nutrition, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme for pre-school children and pregnant and lactating mothers through the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Mid-Day-Meal Scheme (MDM) for primary and upper primary children through Ministry of Human Resource Development, Annapurna Scheme for the senior citizens, Nutritional Programme for Adolescent Girls and Emergency Feeding Programme. This information was given recently by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan in a written reply to Lok Sabha. The Minister said that National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for receiving foodgrains (rice, wheat & coarsegrains) at highly
subzided rates. Thus, 81.35 crore persons which constitute about two-thirds of the population is covered under NFSA. This coverage has been delinked from poverty estimates. The eligible families under NFSA comprise of priority households and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families. Priority households are entitled to receive 5 Kg of foodgrains per person per month at highly subsidized price of Rs.3, 2 & 1 per Kg. for rice, wheat & coarsegrains respectively. The existing AAY households, which constitute the poorest of the poor, will continue to receive 35 Kg. of foodgrains per household per month. The Act also provides that in case annual allocation of foodgrains to any State under the Act is less than the average annual offtake of foodgrains for the last three years under normal TPDS, the same shall be protected. Implementation of the Act has started in 30 States/Union Territories (UTs), covering about 68 crore persons. Foodgrains allocation under erstwhile TPDS is being continued in remaining States/UTs. He said that Government of India has provisionally allocated 289.46 lakh tonnes under NFSA and 207.31 lakh tonnes of foodgrains under erstwhile TPDS during current year. Further, an
additional 50.01 lakh tonnes of foodgrains have also been allocated during the current year for Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) families to the States/UTs where NFSA has not been implemented. In addition, during the current year, 11.70 lakh tonnes of foodgrains have been allocated to the States for festival, calamities and other additional requirements. The Government has also allocated 52.18 lakh tonnes of foodgrains under Other Welfare Schemes such as Mid Day Meal Scheme, Annapurna Scheme, SC/ST/OBC Hostel Scheme, Welfare Institutions Scheme, SABLA Scheme and Wheat Based Nutrition Programme Scheme. Paswan said that the Act also had a special focus on nutritional support to women and children. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to meals as per nutritional norms as well as to receive maternity benefit of not less than Rs.6,000. Children upto 14 years of age are entitled to meals as per the prescribed nutritional standards. Higher nutritional standards have been fixed for malnourished children upto 6 years of age. In case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals, the beneficiaries will receive food security allowance
Govt to create buffer stock of pulses to stabilise prices
T
he Government has taken a decision to create a buffer stock of 1.5 lakh tonnes of pulses through both domestic procurement and imports to improve domestic availability and stabilise prices. This information was given recently by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan in a written reply in Lok Sabha. The Minister said that there had been
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
reports that some private importers did
attempt forming cartels and cornering stocks of certain pulses in producer countries with an objective of delaying their arrival in India, thereby increasing its prices. Domestic searches and surveys have been conducted on a number of importers, traders and financiers engaged in pulses trade. A Group of Officers has been set up for regular monitoring and exchange of information on hoarding, cartelization etc. to facilitate coordinated action.
56 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
NEWS
100% FDI decision in food processing sector will play a big role in doubling farmers’ income by 2022: Harsimrat Kaur Badal uplifting farmers and doubling farmers’ income by 2022. “I wish I did not have to go to the market; I wish the market came to me,” adds Badal.
A
midst the global slowdown, India continues to be one bright spot. Many foreign players whom I met at international food expositions, requested me to put in a word, so that they can participate in AAHAR. This is testimony to the changed global outlook towards India and the strengthening of ‘Brand India’, thanks to the global outreach of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under his leadership, the Government has worked hard to create an environment conducive to the growth of the economy. The food processing sector in India is going to be one bright spot which will propel this growth,” says The Union Food Processing Industries Minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, at inauguration of AAHAR 2016. Inaugurating the International Food and Hospitality Fair 2016, being held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, the Minister said that the Budget decision to allow 100 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail for food products produced and processed in India will play a catalytic role in leapfrogging Indian economy. She underlined that the decision pertains to FDI in 100% swadeshi and home-grown food. The average Indian spends 40 per cent of his income on eatables, and only 10% of what we grow is processed in India. Recalling these facts, the Minister pointed to the huge opportunity that beckons investors. She said that the FDI decision would give a boost to the sector, and would contribute to the eventual aim of
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
Recalling the big market access challenge that India’s farmers face, Smt. Badal said that she is looking at a market that goes to the farmer’s doorsteps, an industry that chases the farmer. She said that the 100 per cent FDI decision would usher in a partnership between industry and farmers, play a huge role in creating backward infrastructure linkages and plugging wastages, thereby improving the farmers’ prospects. The Minister spoke also of the e-marketing platform that is slated to be launched in April 2016, hailing it as a revolutionary initiative by the Prime Minister. She said that the digital platform will integrate 585 regulated markets, providing farmers and traders with access to opportunities for purchase/ sale of agri-commodities at optimal prices in a transparent manner. Badal spoke also of the Government’s vision to tap the potential for organic farming in North East India. Stating that 42 Mega Food Parks are coming up, the Minister said that foreign players can tie up with these parks in pursuing ‘Make In India’, even for specific nations of their choice. This would be facilitated by the plug-and-play model under which these parks would operate, wherein common infrastructural facilities would be provided. Badal said that she aspires to turn India into the food factory for the world in the next few years. “I Aspire to turn India into the food factory for the world in the next few years,” states Badal. The Minister congratulated the India Trade Promotion Organization for the
unprecedented participation response to AAHAR 2016, especially with its focus on new and young entrepreneurs, and added attractions such as a Culinary Art Competition. The Chairman and Managing Director, ITPO, L. C. Goyal said that AAHAR had transformed from a trade promotion event to a growth propelling event. He said that it had become India’s best known brand in food and hospitality sector, having acquired a prominent place in the global calendar of international expositions. Goyal said that the decision to allow 100 per cent FDI in the sector would have a huge multiplier effect, by reducing post-harvest wastage, helping crop diversification, incentivizing global players to invest and produce in India and by creating a large number of jobs adding that this would also help the other objectives of Make in India, Skill India and Start up India. The Chairman said that ITPO’s role is being reoriented, with introduction of e-tendering and e-refunds. He said that the proposal to redevelop Pragati Maidan Complex into a world-class exhibitioncum-convention complex is at an advanced stage of consideration. Further, he underlined that the administration will not allow any event to be adversely affected, due to the redevelopment project. Noting that AAHAR 2016 has broken previous records in terms of both number of exhibitors and space given to exhibitors, Goyal said that the new motto of ITPO is ‘Better and Bigger’. On the occasion, the Union Minister also presented cheques of 1 crore rupees each to Swachh Bharat Kosh and Clean Ganga Initiative of the Government of India, on behalf of ITPO.
57 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
NEWS
BAKERS TECHNOLOGY FAIR 2016
T
he BAKERS TECHNOLOGY FAIR is a strategic platform, aimed at benefiting the baking, catering and confectionery business. Global and Indian manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, associated services and inputs will showcase their capability and the latest technology, within the industry. Synergy Exposures & Events Private Ltd, has staged a number of successful shows in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, providing complete and professional exhibition services. Having developed a comprehensive portfolio of general and specialized exhibitions, today, Synergy is recognized as one of the leading Show Organizers in the region. The expos attract quality exhibitors and visitors from across the globe to meet business prospects face-to-face for business matching and networking. The fairs are well-recognized by the industry served and act as a catalyst for new ideas, ventures and business. BTF 2015 proved to be a highly successful edition from which the Exhibitors and Confectionery industry benefitted immensely. The show was patronized by exhibitors and professional visitors from across India, with a majority of the
patronage from the Southern States. The Fair facilitated the display of over 100 brands, showcasing their products and services to a 6000+ audience from across the country. The 2016 edition is set to take place from the 22nd - 24th July 2016 at The CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex in Coimbatore, India. The Fair will facilitate the display of a wide range of products and services offered to the Bakery and Confectionery Industry and enables all categories of Bakery, Confectionery, Sweet - Snack Producers and Food Industry to find smarter solutions for their business under one roof. 3 - days of Extensive Networking Opportunities would attract International Trade, Promote, Develop and Brand Products & Services in the Southern States. The 2016 edition anticipates Overseas Exhibitors and Delegates. from leading Bakeries,Bread /Biscuit Plant, Confectioneries etc. making it an ideal opportunity to Appoint Distributors, Meet, and Create Awareness with End Users on an international scale. Bakers Knowledge Sharing Forum is an added focus of the fair with remarkable skill exchange sessions ensuring it is
well attended by the fraternity and trade visitors. BTF 2016 is strongly supported by The Society Of Indian Bakers and other National and Regional Associations pertaining to the Food Processing and Bakery Industry. For further details www. bakerstechnologyfair.com occasion even more enjoyable. These delicacies are made available by Gits in a convenient way that can be prepared in 3 easy steps! Give your loved ones a perfect foodie’s delight with Gits treats and savour those precious moments as you offer them a celebration that they would cherish and also relish. So go ahead and plan a ‘big feast’ with your loved ones this Holi and be rest assured that your meal will be flavoursome, consistent and tasty. Gits a trusted name in every household retains the authenticity of its products, making no compromise on taste and richness. Gits products do not have any added preservatives and will surely add that extra touch of goodness to your desserts this Holi!
Gits brings new range of desserts for GudiPadwa
A
n important and essential part of Indian festivities is the traditional dessert recipes that add to the spirit of any celebration. GudiPadwa that marks the beginning of the New Year is notably celebrated amongst Maharashtrians, the essence of which includes amongst other things spending some quality time and treating loved ones with traditional desserts. Indulge in some traditional sweet delights as Gits brings its festive range, a perfect solution for tasty desserts that can be made in 3 easy steps. GudiPadwa is also one of the foremost
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
auspicious days in the Hindu calendar to celebrate housewarming or inaugurations and also for buying gold, silver or property for Maharashtrians. Bid goodbye to the ready-made mithaai and add that personal touch to the celebrations by taking the effort to prepare desserts on your own. Gits dessert range that includes GulabJamun, Rabri, Phirni, Jilebi and Basundi will surely add to the palate of your loved ones and give you a hassle free experience while cooking. Gits a trusted name in every household retains the authenticity of its products,
making no compromise on taste and richness. Gits products do not have any added preservatives and will surely add that extra touch of goodness to your desserts this GudiPadwa!.
58 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
Event Calendar-2016 Months
May-2016 Food Processing Industry In India 5th-7th Packtech & Foodtech China 7th-12th IFFA Germany 11th-14th AFRO Packaging & Food Ehibition Germany 29th-1st IRAN Food & Bev Tech Iran 19th-21st World Food Azerbaijan June-2016 EVENT FOCUS SNACKS & NAMKEEN INDUSTRY IN INDIA 7th-11th Bel Agro Belarus 8th-10th Compack Kenya 8th-10th Afmass Kenya 8th-10th Nigeria Agrofood Nigeria 14th-17th Rosupack Russia 15th-17th Propackasia Thailand 22nd-25th Foodtech And Pharmtech Taipei Taiwan July-2016 8th-10th Compack Mynmar Burma 13th-15th Propak China 13th-15th Bevtek Sanghai China 22nd-24th Bakers Technology Codissia Trade Fair , Coimbatore, India 27th– 30th Packplus, Delhi 24th– 26th Food South, Chennai August 2016 22nd– 24th FI INDIA & HI, New Delhi September 2016 VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
Events
1st-2nd Vita Food Asia Hong Kong 7th–9th FoodPro, Chennai 22nd–24th International Foodtech Mumbai 22nd–24th Annapoorna, Mumbai 28th– 29th Indian Ice Cream Congress & Expo 29th-1st Food Hospitality World, Goa October 2016 4th-7th Tokyo Pack Japan 4th-6th Innopak Spain 5th-6th Easyfairs Sweden 10th-14th Agroprodmash Moscow Russia 11th-14th China Brew & Beverage Sanghai 15th-16th Evenord Germany 21st-23rd Cake Fest Poland 22nd-25th Sudback Germany 22nd–24th Dairy Feast, Lucknow 25th-28th Cibus Tec Italy November 2016 1st-3rd Foodtech Denmark 2nd-4th Worldfood Kazakastan 2nd-6th Indagra Food Romania 2nd-5th Eurasia Packaging Turkey 9th-12th Interfood & Drink Bulgaria 14th-17th Emballage France 19th–22nd Agro Tech,chandigarh 23rd-24th Packaging Innovations Netherlands 25th-26th Empack Belgium 27th-30th Intervitis Germany December 2016 15th–17th Drink Technology , Mumbai 30TH-1st palmex Latin America Columbia
59 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
VOl.11 Issue 06 April 2016
60 www.agronfoodprocessing.com
WPP License No. MR/TECH/WPP-308/TW/2016
Technology. Quality. Leadership. Buhler plants for processing Pulses, Spices and Sesame seeds are designed to deliver higher yields, increased productivity, better product quality and thus improved profitability. With more than 150 years of experience in providing innovative solutions in the global grain and seed processing industry, Bühler can be a competent partner offering you superior technology,expert engineering support and best services contributing to the overall growth of your business.
Buhler (India) Pvt. Ltd. Kapil Complex 1/4 Main Baner Mahalunge Road Pune – 411 045 T +91 020 6649 7777 F +91 020 6649 7700 pulses-spice.processing@buhlergroup.com www.buhlergroup.com
Multi-product Cleaning, Grading and Optical Sorting Complete processing system for wide variety of pulses Natural and Hulled Sesame seeds processing All seed Spices processing and grinding
Innovations for a better world.