Economic slowdown won't hit growth prospects of food processing machinery industry

NEW DELHI: India’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) engaged in food processing machinery industry are hopeful that the sector will register robust growth in the coming days as the food processing sector is being recognised as high priority sector despite the present economic slowdown.

While talking to SME News about the growth prospects of food processing machinery industry, Prashanth Jairam, export manager at CS Aerotherm Private Limited, said, “The sector is expected to witness 15-20% growth during the present fiscal and may clock 20-25% growth during the next financial year (2013-14). As the food processing industry is dynamic and fast-paced, the revenue of this allied sector will definitely go up in the near future. The ever-changing food habits is giving opportunities to the machinery makers, technology and service providers.”
 

SMEs often complain that the technology and equipments used in Indian agro and food processing sector are not much advanced as compared to other developed countries due to the absence of sufficient investment. As the demand for fresh and high quality food is leading to development in technology, the standard of machinery and equipment also needs to improve considerably. Processing tools and equipment such as conveyor belts, washdown houses are being used as meat, poultry, and fish related products are prone to dangerous bacteria.
 

To bring improvement in this allied sector of agro and food processing industry, the investment levels need to climb significantly as it will help introduce new machinery and equipment which is currently the need of the hour. Frioz H Naqvi, Secretary of Agro & Food Processing Equipment & Technology Providers Association of India (AFTPAI), said, “The investment in this sector will go up as many foreign players are setting up their units in India due to the global meltdown in Europe and US. Also, government needs to initiate steps to enhance the productivity of this sector.”
 

Various machines such as dairy equipment, sausage making equipment, pizza making machines, meat tenderising equipment, snack food making machinery, mixing tanks enjoy good demand in India.