WORKSHOP on Opportunities in Horticulture and Food Processing Industry

TiE Kolkata and FOSBECCI have partnered with the Dept of Food Processing Industries and Horticulture, Govt of West Bengal, to conduct a day-long workshop

India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables globally, accounting for 15% of the world’s production.

West Bengal is the only blessed State of the Indian sub-continent which embraces almost all types of physical, climatic and soil conditions to provide a variety of Horticulture crops. West Bengal is the largest producer of horticultural crops in India, with 26.68 MT accounting for 9.6% of total horticulture production in the country. Our 86.4% of the horticulture produce is vegetables - Potatoes, Onions, Tomatoes, Peas, Ginger, Garlic, Black pepper, and Green Chilly. Pineapples, Jack fruit, Papaya, Mangoes, Guava, Bananas, Coconut, and Oranges account for more fruits. 

As per Assocham’s study, 30% of the total fruits and vegetables are rendered unfit for consumption due to spoilage, including a loss of almost 13,600 crores in West Bengal annually. Although we produce 15% of the products globally, our share in the Global market trade is only 1%. 
Some major challenges we face are Low technology, Storage and transportation infrastructure and processing facility. There is an urgent need to set up food processing units and related infrastructure in West Bengal to tap the huge potential. Department of Food Processing and Horticulture, Gov of West Bengal, is aggressively supporting the industry through technology support, capacity building and skill upgradation through training and support, capital infusion and several incentive schemes.

The workshop will be inaugurated by Hon’ble MIC, Dept of Horticulture and Food Processing Industry, and the agenda for the day will be the following:

1) Presentation by Additional Chief Secretary Dr Subrata Gupta, IAS and Department senior executives on
a. Potential of Horticulture and Food Processing Industry in West Bengal
b. Technology support and Capacity building support by the Department
c. Various support and Incentive policies

2) Presentation by Shri Partha Mondal, General Manager, NABARD on  "" Scope & Prospects in the Agriculture and food processing sector and Role of NABARD”

3) Presentation by Successful Entrepreneurs from the Horticulture and Food processing industry .

a. Current status of the Food processing industry
b. Case studies on successful implementation of the industry
c. Challenges and Opportunities in the Industry

4) Presentation by Technology Consultants and Experts
a. Technology advancements and trends in Industry
b. Detailed Project reports on setting up the Food Processing Industry for different levels of investment