India, developing at an unprecedented pace indicates towards change expected in the economy. Agriculture plays an important role in Indian economy and provides a source of livelihood to almost 70% and employment to almost 58% of the total Indian population.
The country is world’s second largest producer of food, next only to China, but accounts for less than 1.5% of International Food Trade. This indicates requirement of greater adoption of modern technology. As a result, India is emerging as one of the hottest destinations for grain milling technologies.
To facilitate communication and interaction between different sectors, GrainTech India was launched. 6th edition of the event was organized on 21-23 August 2015, at BIEC, Banaglore.
6th GrainTech India focussed on grains, cereals, oilseeds, feeds, products & technologies. The annual event seeks to reduce the technological gap in production, processing and supply. The event has helped in satiating the increasing domestic demand and also in fulfilling the export targets of food products.
An important highlight of the event, was the Indian Flour Milling Industry and Mega Food Parks Conclave which held on 21st August 2015, in the Cassia Hall of the BIEC Conference Centre. The Conclave had national and international speakers, who highlighted the emerging trends of value-addition in grain milling industry, market scenario of value-added and RTE (Ready to Eat) products, quality issues and technical solutions, mega food parks, the relationship between cold chain development and food sector, and the scope of agribusiness and food industry as a viable career option. The participants and speakers exchanged their respective opinions and experiences, and suggested ways to improve the industry by imbibing modern advancements, shared by the participating international companies like Buhler India, Alapala Machines (Turkey), Molino (Turkey), and many others.
“Foreign companies, manufacturing farm machinery and processing equipment, view India as a potential market, because interest in farm mechanization, automation and on-site value addition has already escalated in India”, pointed out Syed Jafar Naqvi (Chief Coordinator, Media Today Group) in his opening remarks of the Conclave. Dr. G. Kalpana (Prinicipal Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Govt. of Karnataka) stressed the need to ensure food security.6th edition of the event witnessed the participation of almost 30 countries including Turkey, China, Taiwan, the Netherlands, to name a few. More than 220 national and international stakeholders exhibited their products and it became huge success with participation of almost 40,000 visitors from all sectors of the industry.
