How Will India Address Food Production Challenges?
INDIA - Animal proteins are having a growing presence on the dinner plate in India and many seminars and discussions are being held on meeting this need.
10 February 2015
2 minute read
Over 150 delegates including international participants attended the VIP Vets Welfare Association (VIPWA)’s technical seminar on ‘Challenges in Food Production of Animal Origin in India and Solutions in Post-2020 Scenario’.
The seminar discussed areas concerning the poultry and animal feed sectors, hosted at Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA) in Pune recently.
Speaking at the seminar, Dr How-Cheong Chin, an international poultry consultant from Singapore, said that there is a need to move from ‘chicken farm’ to value-added products, which meet consumer expectations in terms of quality and safety for domestic and export markets.
The poultry industry will see volume-based growth and we gradually need to move for automation, technical improvement and sophistication, Dr Chin stressed.
He called on farmers to gear up for the competition with the multinational companies as they see India as a good market, due to the growing economy, increasing power of middle class to spend more for animal proteins.
Israeli dairy expert, Jehuda Sprecher, pointed to a need for implementing animal welfare. Dr Sprecher also gave many practical tips for the improvement of milk production, milk quality and practical farm management solutions.
Dr Aditya Kumar Misra, vice chancellor of Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University in Nagpur, said that there is huge need for research in human resources.
He added that greater increasing animal proteins in the diet stems from a growing economy, allowing changes in the female workforce, lifestyle changes and differences in agriculture production.
Dr Misra emphasised the need for Continued Veterinary Education (CVE) for updating field and industry veterinarians about the latest knowledge/information.
Vijay Sardana, a specialist in bio-economy including food security, food safety, commodities and agribusiness from New Delhi, talked about challenges for ensuring the food safety, why it is needed and the potential reasons for food safety risks and why it is necessary to develop and address the innovative approaches for the food safety challenges to consumers.
Founded in 2008, VIPWA has 190 active members working in the private sector with a primary objective to promote technical excellence.
