The food sector is in the maximum need of technological advancement and modernization as there is huge wastage that happens in this sector. This was pointed out by none other than the commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath, in a video link address that he delivered at the India Retail Forum, 2008.
In his video address from Delhi, Kamal Nath said, “If we have to reach global standards in retail, it is important to bring in the right technology and quality to meet the demands of the consumers and most of all in the food sector”.
“Today, Indian fruits and vegetables are the highest in production in the world. We are the largest producer in the world, but 40 per cent of fruits and vegetables are rotting”, lamented Nath. He stressed on the importance of cold chains to address the needs of the food sector. Nath said that if India has to reach global standards in retail and engage with the world then retail industry must modernise itself across the spectrum and look at technological advancements.
It may be pointed out here that 98 per cent of the fruit and vegetables produced in India are not yet processed in the organized sector. Similarly, even though India is the largest producer of milk in the world, 85 per cent of the milk is not processed. The quantum of wastage that happens to fruits and vegetables in this country, is one of the highest in the world.
