In order to reduce post harvest food losses, estimated at Rs 1,00,000 crore, the government has said it will promote new technologies that help increase the shelf life of pulses and other grains. Efforts are also being made to strengthen storage infrastructure with modern silos by giving huge subsidies under various government schemes. Addressing a global conference on controlled atmosphere and fumigation in stored products, Food Processing Secretary Avinash K Srivastava pitched for use of science and technology to address the problem of food wastage in the country. Stressing the need to promote new technologies, Srivastava highlighted the advantage of Buhler grain technology for pulses and JVM technology for citrus fruits in increasing the shelf life of products. Since India faces a shortage of pulses, he said Buhler technology can be used. Already, some private players in Maharashtra and Gujarat are using it on a small scale. Highlighting government schemes that promote setting up of storage facilities, the Secretary said private players are being roped in this area and modern silos are coming up gradually. The four-day international conference was organised by agrochemical firm UPL Ltd and Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The event is organised once in four years and the last one was held in Turkey.
(Source: www.http://food.ndtv.com, 8 November 2016)