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The Government should consider viability gap funding to encourage private sector investments in modern grain storage infrastructure, according to S Sivakumar, Divisional Chief Executive, ITC – Agri Business Division.
The country’s wheat production is estimated at close to 100 million tonnes (mt) from about 30 million hectares under cultivation. There is potential to increase this by about 20 per cent with the available technologies. But post-harvest losses are a huge concern with an estimated 5 mt being lost in storage and transportation.
Addressing the 7{+t}{+h} international seminar on wheat and wheat products, he said that the Government support is required to garner private sector investments and public private partnership in grain storage infrastructure.
Biometric systems can be introduced to supply grains to beneficiaries under the public distribution system to prevent leakage and pilferage, he said. Technology rather than subsidy can be the key to food security, he felt. MS Swaminathan, Chairman, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, said a national grid of grain storages is needed fast. India needs over 60-70 mt of foodgrains to meet the needs of food security programme. Wheat production has increased to nearly a 100 mt from about 6 mt at the time of Independence.
Monsoon and markets decide the fate of farmers in India. Improving yields, developing crop varieties that are pest- and disease-resistant and modern infrastructure can benefit farmers. Genetic tools are key to getting high yielding crops but adequate safety regulations are needed to instil confidence in the public, he said.
Varun Berry, Managing Director, Britannia Industries Ltd, said changing lifestyles are driving demand for value-added wheat products that are convenient and ready-to-eat. New categories of baked products, frozen dough for delivering fresh-off-the-oven products to shoppers are in demand. This means the quality of raw material, wheat from the farms, has to be good and specific varieties that cater to specialised applications are needed.
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