Food processors eye contract farming to boost exports
Hyderabad, March 16 (INN): CII Andhra Pradesh, in association with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), organized a one-day conference on Agro Exports from Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday. Delivering the inaugural address, APEDA Chairman Asit Tripathy pointed out that Andhra Pradesh is an important state as far as Agriculture production is concerned.
'There is immense scope for enhancing agri production from Andhra Pradesh as it has a good base of both enterprise and infrastructure. Agriculture Enterprise has a potential source of making money', he said. Mr Tripathy also opined that small farming is a major issue as it cannot create greater surplus and in this regard contract farming can do wonders. 'The Contract Farming provides structural solutions for our agricultural problems and the processing of Gherkins is a good example from Andhra Pradesh', he said.
Mr Tripathy also pointed out that 'Food Processing industry has a great export potential from Andhra Pradesh. As some of the Agri commodities are getting banned for exports, the food processing is a growth area as it was never banned. The technology is available to enhance the capabilities of processed food and Industry must make best use of it', he said.
The APEDA chairman also pointed out that FDI is allowed in the Multi brand retail sector, which is a welcome development for the processing industry. 'As our infrastructure capacities are increasing, we need to think of exports to the other East Asian countries, and not only focus on Middle East, which is our forte', he said.
Horticulture Commissioner I Rani Kumadini in her keynote presentation, made a SWOT analysis of Horticulture products from Andhra Pradesh. 'The Horticulture in Andhra Pradesh is fast growing as the production of Mangos, Sweet Orange, Sapota, Pomegranate, Guava, Papaya and others are on a rise and the exports in these products are going good. However, the production of grapes is on a decline, which is a matter of concern', she said.
Talking about threats and weaknesses, Ms Kumadini emphasized that Andhra Pradesh lacks in multipurpose cold storage and post harvest facilities and technologies and there is a need for a PPP do develop these areas. Ms Kumadini also pointed out that Agri Export Zones, which are five in number in Andhra Pradesh, are doing well and has immensely enhanced the horticulture exports from Andhra Pradesh.
NRC for Meat Director N Kondaiah, in his special address, opined that India has immense potential to export buffalo meat, as India stands first in buffalo population. Dr Kondaiah also pointed out that livestock ensures farmers with better livelihood and living standards. 'This will certainly reduce the cases of farmer suicide', he said.
Dr Kondaiah also urged the industry and APEDA to come up with a 'Commodity Prospective Plan' for all the agriculture commodities and provide appropriate recommendations for greater production and exports.
AP AGROS VC and MD Shailaja Ramaiyer, in her special address, talked about the facilities available in Andhra Pradesh for integrated processing, especially through Integrated Pack Houses and Vapour Heat Treatment Plant. She pointed out that at State level there is no agency to coordinate exports of various products for agro products. Ms Ramaiyer, urged CII and APEDA to assist in establishing a Pesticide Residue Testing Laboratory in the State under Public Private Partnership model.
CII Taskforce on Agriculture Chairman Mr Anil Kumar V Epur in his theme address pointed out that India does not possess any natural advantage for broad based export of agro foods. 'Its cultivable land per capita is low and share of food in consumer expenditure is very high (70 per cent), and hence, political sensitivity of agro foods and uncertainty in export rules and regulations', he said.
Talking about the factor endowments required for broad based agro food exports, Mr Epur talked about two criterions ' Economic criteria consisting of low share of food in consumption expenditure, low income elasticity of demand, low habit elasticity of demand; and the political criteria consisting of high cultivable land per capita, medium to high standards of nutrition, medium to high urban population. 'These exist in countries like the USA, Canada, Brazil etc', he said.
Mr Epur urged the Agro industry that dependence on one particular product, raw material or region should be avoided, considering the unreliability in India's Agro-Climatic conditions.
Hyderabad, March 16 (INN): CII Andhra Pradesh, in association with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), organized a one-day conference on Agro Exports from Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday. Delivering the inaugural address, APEDA Chairman Asit Tripathy pointed out that Andhra Pradesh is an important state as far as Agriculture production is concerned.
'There is immense scope for enhancing agri production from Andhra Pradesh as it has a good base of both enterprise and infrastructure. Agriculture Enterprise has a potential source of making money', he said. Mr Tripathy also opined that small farming is a major issue as it cannot create greater surplus and in this regard contract farming can do wonders. 'The Contract Farming provides structural solutions for our agricultural problems and the processing of Gherkins is a good example from Andhra Pradesh', he said.
Mr Tripathy also pointed out that 'Food Processing industry has a great export potential from Andhra Pradesh. As some of the Agri commodities are getting banned for exports, the food processing is a growth area as it was never banned. The technology is available to enhance the capabilities of processed food and Industry must make best use of it', he said.
The APEDA chairman also pointed out that FDI is allowed in the Multi brand retail sector, which is a welcome development for the processing industry. 'As our infrastructure capacities are increasing, we need to think of exports to the other East Asian countries, and not only focus on Middle East, which is our forte', he said.
Horticulture Commissioner I Rani Kumadini in her keynote presentation, made a SWOT analysis of Horticulture products from Andhra Pradesh. 'The Horticulture in Andhra Pradesh is fast growing as the production of Mangos, Sweet Orange, Sapota, Pomegranate, Guava, Papaya and others are on a rise and the exports in these products are going good. However, the production of grapes is on a decline, which is a matter of concern', she said.
Talking about threats and weaknesses, Ms Kumadini emphasized that Andhra Pradesh lacks in multipurpose cold storage and post harvest facilities and technologies and there is a need for a PPP do develop these areas. Ms Kumadini also pointed out that Agri Export Zones, which are five in number in Andhra Pradesh, are doing well and has immensely enhanced the horticulture exports from Andhra Pradesh.
NRC for Meat Director N Kondaiah, in his special address, opined that India has immense potential to export buffalo meat, as India stands first in buffalo population. Dr Kondaiah also pointed out that livestock ensures farmers with better livelihood and living standards. 'This will certainly reduce the cases of farmer suicide', he said.
Dr Kondaiah also urged the industry and APEDA to come up with a 'Commodity Prospective Plan' for all the agriculture commodities and provide appropriate recommendations for greater production and exports.
AP AGROS VC and MD Shailaja Ramaiyer, in her special address, talked about the facilities available in Andhra Pradesh for integrated processing, especially through Integrated Pack Houses and Vapour Heat Treatment Plant. She pointed out that at State level there is no agency to coordinate exports of various products for agro products. Ms Ramaiyer, urged CII and APEDA to assist in establishing a Pesticide Residue Testing Laboratory in the State under Public Private Partnership model.
CII Taskforce on Agriculture Chairman Mr Anil Kumar V Epur in his theme address pointed out that India does not possess any natural advantage for broad based export of agro foods. 'Its cultivable land per capita is low and share of food in consumer expenditure is very high (70 per cent), and hence, political sensitivity of agro foods and uncertainty in export rules and regulations', he said.
Talking about the factor endowments required for broad based agro food exports, Mr Epur talked about two criterions ' Economic criteria consisting of low share of food in consumption expenditure, low income elasticity of demand, low habit elasticity of demand; and the political criteria consisting of high cultivable land per capita, medium to high standards of nutrition, medium to high urban population. 'These exist in countries like the USA, Canada, Brazil etc', he said.
Mr Epur urged the Agro industry that dependence on one particular product, raw material or region should be avoided, considering the unreliability in India's Agro-Climatic conditions.
News Posted: 16 March, 2011
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