National
Amul eyes the Japanese market
Though GCMMF failed in its first attempt to enter the Japanese market in 1994, the
federation has recently seen a ray of hope in this regard. This optimism comes after a
delegation of Japan's Agriculture and Livestock Industry Corp (ALIC) responded positively
post its visit to GCMM F's facilities processing units in Gujarat. Commenting in this
context, BM Vyas, MD, GCMMF said, "After the visit, they were shell-shocked to say
the least about the volumes we handle and the hi-tech facilities. They realised that
not only is India the largest milk producer but that we also have world-class
processing capability." He further added that with the Japanese officials having
finally realised the federation's capability, he sees a ray of hope for exporting cheese
and milk powder to Japan, which is a major importer of dairy products. Besides Japan, the
cooperative is also trying to aggressively market its products in Sri Lanka, where it has offered to
help set up a dairy cooperative based on its own success. Similarly, China is another market where Amul is
trying to enter in a small way, while simultaneously exploring more possibilities in countries like Mauritius.
Russia accuses Tetra Pak India
of unsafe packaging
Tetra Pak, the world's largest producer of
long-term packaging was recently warned
by Russia's safety authorities for using
certain kind of mould, which has been
found in Tetra Fino Aseptic material that
came from the company's Indian branch.
The Russian dairy Ufamolagroprom (UFA)
said that the material is dangerous to
human health and was found by chance
because of the distinct smell of mould.
Russia's Scientific-Practical Centre for
exceptional situations and hygiene experts
from the Federal consumer rights
protection service confirmed the presence
of mould in tests, the results of which were
then passed on to the National
Association on Genetic Security (NAGS).
Expressing his views on the issue,
Alexandr Baranov, President, NAGS,
said, "Some mould types are very
dangerous for human health, especially for
children, who are the biggest consumers of
dairy products."
Though the packing material was
withdrawn before being used at the dairy,
this incident has triggered serious worries
about the quality of the internal control
over the production safety within Tetra
Pak and over the efficiency of Federal
sanitary controls when importing materials
for the food industry.
Responding to the situation, a Tetra
Pak spokesperson, said that the Tetra Fino
Aseptic had become infected during
transportation and Tetra Pak had
thereafter cancelled contracts with the
company.
Chateau Indage to set up
wineries in North India
Chateau Indage, a leading wine making firm
has decided to set up a winery in Nagwain
in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh and
accordingly the company has signed a deal
with the government.
Speaking on this issue, SC Chougule,
Chairman, Indage Group of Industries said,
"The wine produced from grapes grown in
the vineyards in the Himalayan foothills will
be the finest in the country. Also, the most
significant part of the deal is that we will
soon enter into a contract farming
agreement with farmers in the vicinity of the
plant to supply us wine grapes for 10 years."
He further explained that the farmers
would feel secure as Indage will buy the
entire grape yield for 10 years and will
ensure reasonable profits to the grower,
apart from distributing loans at low rates.
In the first year of production, the
company hopes to crush wine grapes
grown in at least 100 acres to meet some
of the demand for its 3,000-tonne capacity
plant at Nagwain.
It will import some seeds from France,
while the rest will be bought from
Maharashtra. Besides this, the firm will
also set up a fruit winery in Pragatinagar
and both these wineries together are
expected to cost around Rs 500 million.
Study shows higher tea production
and consumption figures
Shattering the myth of stagnant domestic market
for tea and its slow growth in production, a recent
study revealed that the country's tea production
and consumption for past four years is much more
than the official figures released by the Tea Board.
Jointly conducted by the government's Tea Board
and the Indian Tea Association (ITA) - a body
representing the tea plantation companies - the
study revealed that for every year since 2002, the
revised production figure has turned out to be
around 50 million kg more than the official
figures. Similarly, the production in 2002 has
turned out to be 883 million kg against 838
million kg; in 2003 it was 907 million kg (against
the initial 857 million kg) and for 2004 the new
figure is 870 million kg against 820 million kg. As
for the current year, PT Siganporia, Chairman,
ITA and MD, Tata Tea Ltd, said that the study
pegged the production at 920 million kg against
the official projection of 875 million kg. Similarly,
consumption this year is now expected to be 790
million kg against 650 million kg.
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