Re-imaging agriculture through the lens of Food Processing Industry
The COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the criticality of Food Security and food surplus management in the current policy space. To this end, policy steps in the agriculture sector in recent years have shifted their orientation from sustenance to Marketing. However, the sector is still exposed to challenges of post-harvest management (PHM), poor price discovery and inadequate market access for farmers. Lack of PHM, in particular, has led to significant post-harvest losses of 4-6-15.8% in fruits and vegetables, 10.5% in marine Fisheries-2/”>Fisheries and 6.7% in Poultry (ICAR-CIPHET, 2015). While significant progress has been made in building individual cold storage facilities, their lack of geographical spread persists as also their tardy up gradation into integrated multi-commodity hubs.
The food processing industry (FPI) is poised to address these supply chain gaps bolstered by an ecosystem recently set up by the Government’s three Farm Acts under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat package, Agri Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE Fund and formalisation of Micro Food enterprises. A growing FPI sector will also help create a fair and equitable agricultural market while ensuring good remuneration for farmers, as elucidated by models of Amul, Mother Dairy and Big Basket. However, FPI in India is currently at a nascent stage, accounting for only 10 per cent of our total food production. Despite the sector employing 11.4% of the organized manufacturing workforce, India’s FPI share in manufacturing GVA is fairly low at 9.7% as compared to 35.5% in Indonesia and 34.3% in New Zealand.
For this sector to contribute to the establishment of an efficient farm to fork supply chain, Government will be required to intervene in five key areas:
First, as part of the One District One Product initiative, the Government may conduct a district level crop-wise assessment of existing bottlenecks in the supply chain, mapping all strategically located stakeholders. These stakeholders will include farmers, farmer co-operatives/producer companies and private enterprises such as standalone investors, traders, food enterprises, online and offline supermarkets, exporters and retail chains.
Second, make it behaviourally and financially viable for the farmer to adopt PHM technologies by aggregating information and Services ranging from inputs, credit and marketing for him at the district level, which is currently done by the local trader. These local agents with intimate knowledge of farmers and social norms are ideal candidates to be risk assessors, information aggregators and influential catalysts for trust building.
Therefore, it is critical to retain the role of such key local agents in FPI business models, as exemplified by ITC’s E-Choupal and NABARD’s Maa-Thota programme. Further, with the farmers now free to sell their produce beyond mandis, building alternative locations of service and information aggregation, both online and offline, becomes salient. These may emerge at Gramin Haats for building PHM, E-NAM centres for price discovery, WDRA registered warehouses for storage and Krishi Vikas Kendras and Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies for technology dissemination.
Third, encourage integration of all locally available micro food processing units with nearby production clusters for enabling them to vertically integrate with big private players. This can be facilitated through investor platforms like Nivesh Bandhu Portal and India Investment Grid, which can be upscaled with backward linkages to farmers/FPOs.
Fourth, address local capacity needs via bottom up FPI training channels. In particular, impart basic IT training to rural youth via Common Service Centres to serve as digital links for the farmers/FPOs and food enterprises. Further, upskilling of mandi labourers with key PHM skills of loading, unloading, cleaning and bagging will also improve the efficiency of FPI supply chains.
Fifth, engage consumer behavior analytics firms to study post-COVID emerging signals of shift in consumer preferences towards fresh produce and environmentally friendly products. The firms could also analyze the massive data collected through M-Kisan and Kisan Call Centres on e-TAAL to bridge the FPI demand-supply data dichotomy and identify potential areas for FPI investment.
Today, with India’s food sector opened to global participation and the Government bringing in the ecosystem to strengthen the food value chain, the food processing industry is poised to be a harbinger of third Green Revolution in India’s agriculture.
However, this favourable global ecosystem will be a lost opportunity if the national and rural constructs of India’s agri-business systems are not dovetailed with it.
These interventions will precisely do that by bringing the macro, meso and micro in sync with each other.
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Agriculture and food processing are two of the most important industries in the world. They provide us with the food we need to survive, and they play a vital role in our economy. However, these industries are facing a number of challenges, including Climate change, water scarcity, and labor shortages.
The future of agriculture and food processing will depend on our ability to address these challenges. We need to develop new technologies that can help us produce more food with less Resources. We also need to find ways to make the food system more efficient and equitable.
One way to address these challenges is to re-imagine agriculture through the lens of the food processing industry. The food processing industry is already highly automated and efficient. By adopting some of these technologies, the agriculture industry can become more productive and sustainable.
For example, we can use sensors and drones to monitor crops and identify problems early on. We can also use robots to automate tasks such as harvesting and packing. These technologies can help us reduce the use of pesticides and Fertilizers, which can improve the Health of our Soil and water.
In addition to technology, we also need to make changes to the way we produce and consume food. We need to eat less meat and more plant-based foods. We also need to reduce food waste. By making these changes, we can reduce the environmental impact of our food system.
The future of agriculture and food processing is bright. By working together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable food system for all.
Here are some specific examples of how technology is being used in agriculture and food processing:
- Drones are being used to monitor crops, identify problems, and apply pesticides and fertilizers.
- Robots are being used to automate tasks such as harvesting and packing.
- Artificial Intelligence is being used to develop new varieties of crops and to improve the efficiency of food processing.
- Blockchain is being used to track the provenance of food and to ensure food safety.
These technologies are just a few examples of how innovation is transforming agriculture and food processing. As these technologies continue to develop, they will have a profound impact on the way we produce and consume food.
The future of agriculture and food processing is full of potential. By working together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable food system for all.
What is agriculture?
Agriculture is the practice of cultivating Plants and Livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in cities. The history of agriculture began thousands of years ago. After gathering wild grains beginning at least 105,000 years ago, nascent farmers began to plant them around 11,500 years ago. Pigs, sheep and cattle were domesticated over 10,000 years ago. Plants were independently cultivated in at least 11 regions of the world.
What is the food processing industry?
The food processing industry is a broad term that encompasses the entire process of converting raw agricultural products into finished food products. This includes activities such as harvesting, cleaning, sorting, grading, packaging, and distribution. The food processing industry is a vital part of the global economy, employing millions of people and generating billions of dollars in revenue each year.
What are the benefits of agriculture?
Agriculture provides us with food, fiber, and fuel. It also plays a vital role in the Environment, by providing habitat for wildlife and helping to regulate the climate. Agriculture is a major source of EMPLOYMENT in many countries, and it contributes significantly to the global economy.
What are the challenges of agriculture?
Agriculture faces a number of challenges, including Climate Change, water scarcity, and soil degradation. These challenges are likely to become more severe in the future, as the world’s Population continues to grow. Agriculture also contributes to environmental problems such as deforestation, Air Pollution, and Water Pollution.
What is the future of agriculture?
The future of agriculture is uncertain. The challenges facing agriculture are likely to become more severe in the future, as the world’s population continues to grow. However, there are also a number of opportunities for agriculture to become more sustainable and efficient. The future of agriculture will depend on the ability of farmers, scientists, and policymakers to address these challenges and opportunities.
What are some of the latest trends in agriculture?
Some of the latest trends in agriculture include:
- The use of precision agriculture technologies, such as drones and sensors, to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
- The development of new crops and varieties that are more resistant to pests and diseases.
- The use of vertical farming and other innovative methods to produce food in urban areas.
- The increasing focus on Sustainable Agriculture practices, such as Organic Farming and regenerative agriculture.
What are some of the ethical Issues in Agriculture?
Some of the ethical issues in agriculture include:
- The treatment of animals raised for food.
- The use of pesticides and other chemicals that can harm the environment.
- The impact of agriculture on climate change.
- The unequal distribution of land and resources among farmers.
What can I do to help support sustainable agriculture?
There are many things you can do to help support sustainable agriculture, including:
- Buying food from local farmers.
- Eating less meat.
- Composting food scraps.
- Planting a garden.
- Supporting organizations that promote sustainable agriculture.
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Which of the following is not a major challenge facing the agriculture industry?
(A) Climate change
(B) Water scarcity
(C) Labor shortages
(D) Overpopulation -
Which of the following is the most common type of food processing?
(A) Canning
(B) Freezing
(C) Drying
(D) Dehydration -
Which of the following is the most efficient way to preserve food?
(A) Canning
(B) Freezing
(C) Drying
(D) Dehydration -
Which of the following is the most sustainable way to preserve food?
(A) Canning
(B) Freezing
(C) Drying
(D) Dehydration -
Which of the following is the most environmentally friendly way to preserve food?
(A) Canning
(B) Freezing
(C) Drying
(D) Dehydration -
Which of the following is the most expensive way to preserve food?
(A) Canning
(B) Freezing
(C) Drying
(D) Dehydration -
Which of the following is the most labor-intensive way to preserve food?
(A) Canning
(B) Freezing
(C) Drying
(D) Dehydration -
Which of the following is the most time-consuming way to preserve food?
(A) Canning
(B) Freezing
(C) Drying
(D) Dehydration -
Which of the following is the most versatile way to preserve food?
(A) Canning
(B) Freezing
(C) Drying
(D) Dehydration -
Which of the following is the most convenient way to preserve food?
(A) Canning
(B) Freezing
(C) Drying
(D) Dehydration