How Natural Calamities in India have
Transformed Food Processing Industry
The past two decades in India have witnessed many natural
disasters. The landscape of horticulture and agriculture has changed.
On the one hand, we have seen the growth of horticultural
products and, on the other hand, dramatic and unprecedented rainfall and
ever-changing weather patterns in India's pockets, floods have exacerbated
farmers' problems. To these problems are added the internal and personal
problems of the farmers; Bank loans, small-scale farms are creating more and
more marginal farmers, which has exacerbated the problems.
Poor marketing policies, rising input costs, intermediaries,
and wholesale markets that control product prices always put the farmer in a
state of uncertainty.
To add to all this, the current worldwide epidemic of
malignant COVID 19 (Corona) has really broken the backs of farmers with fewer
and larger plantations. With a total blockade in the country, the entire
economy is in a state of stagnation. Although COVID 19's dark silver coating
has a silver coating, it will take time for the economy to return to normal.
100 and 1000 farmers are destroying their produce for lack
of transportation, labor to harvest, and markets are literally closed. The
export of fresh produce has stagnated, leading to a recent failure in the Dubai
Daira fruit and vegetable market, where one company has cheated 810 tonnes of
banana, grape and coconut for food exporters. This has caused tensions among
farmers, growers, exporters, economists, and policy makers.
The plight of the farmers is enormous and cannot be resolved
overnight. Unfortunately, the system and politics have weakened them over time.
Inequality in lifestyle has forced the younger generation to move to nearby
cities with ambition and insist on having a better lifestyle.
The time has come for rural India to take into account all
the uncertainties of life and become more self-sufficient, financially
independent and create more entrepreneurs in the MSME sector.
Way forward
Create more and more collection centers in the respective
regions by creating production companies.
Start distribution centers and cold chain (primary
processing centers)
Start small and medium-sized fruit and vegetable processing
plants in their respective areas.Think outside the box for such units and enter
the niche. The fruit and vegetable sector has a large number of MSMEs options
that entrepreneurs can establish in food
processing. We have seen entrepreneurs interested in establishing food processing plants across India. It
should also be understood that the Indian market and palate needs are very
unique and that Western models cannot be replicated here and therefore it is
easier for Indian entrepreneurs who are familiar with local tastes and habits
to establish such plants. what any MNC can access.
Why the need now more than ever?
This epidemic causes drastic lifestyle changes, even in big
and small cities around the world. Whole people opt for more samples and
healthy products, whether it's fresh fruits and vegetables or processed fruits
and vegetables. People look for foods that increase immunity, organic foods, and other healthy options.
This will help farmers alleviate irregular and fluctuating market prices
through backward integration into the industry. Minimum sustainable prices for
their products and job creation in their environment will help boost rural
India and the economy and improve its economic situation. Low cost and good
storage options ensure that raw materials are available year-round. We can
analyze in detail the new opportunities available to entrepreneurs who are
interested in establishing business units with a budget that ranges from Rs 50
lakh to Rs 5 CR.
Comments
Post a Comment