Packed
success
A
thorough knowledge of packaging solutions and export laws is the first
step towards achieving success in the global export market, says Prof
AA Joshi
The
WTO Agreement has opened up tremendous opportunities and challenges
for its signatory countries and India being one of these nations, has
opened its markets for free play of market forces. This in turn, has
smoothened import duties and furthered export opportunities. In fact,
India's total exports, which are hovering between US$ 30-40 billion
for last few years, are expected to reach US$ 75 billion in the near
future. But if one considers the spurt witnessed in this arena in the
last one year, the above export target of seems quite an achievable
task. Our country's economic dependence on agriculture continued for
several decades, with the agriculture sector contributing nearly 40-50
per cent till the early ‘90s. This, however, began changing from
mid ‘90s when the manufacturing and service sectors began playing
a more dominant role in the economythis trend is still continuing and
is expected to grow in future. Again, though India has a large production
of fruits and vegetables, its processing activities are quite negligible-that
is less than one per cent. Consequently, its share of processed foods
in export markets is also similar to the above. Moreover, the cost of
processed food products in India is relatively high and thus beyond
the reach of majority of consumers. As a result, India's food processing
sector has largely remained primitive, with the exception of a few large-scale
units. Nonetheless, the situation is now changing, thanks to the initiatives
like the Green Revolution and the White Revolution, which have placed
India on the world map in fruit, vegetable and milk production. It has
surpassed the US to become the largest producer of fresh milk. Additionally,
it is also the largest producer of fruits in the world with over 40
million tonnes produced annually. With a yearly production of around
80 million tones, India ranks second in the global production of vegetables.
Also, being responsive to the growing prospects of the country's food
exports, the government has implemented several policy measures over
the last few years by initiating food processing activities and giving
special incentives for setting up of new units and expanding the existing
ones.
Processed food packaging techniques
Food products are highly perishable, thus making
the role of packaging quite crucial. Protection and preservation of
food products in long distribution transits through various climatic
zones, holds special value.
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