NEW DELHI, Nov 3: A delegation from Arunachal Pradesh, led by Minister Industries Tamiyo Taga, Commissioner Industries Tahang Taggu, Secretary Horticulture, Mimum Tayeng and Director Industries Taru Talo, along with a sizeable number of department officials, growers and entrepreneurs from the food processing sector are in New Delhi to participate in the World Food India event inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at Delhi.
In his inaugural address, the Prime Minister said that the mantra for business houses was to produce, process and prosper and endorsed that the NER had enormous potential in this regard, “offering opportunities to create functional infrastructure for organic produce”.
The team from Arunachal have partnered with the North Eastern Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) and set up an exhibition area with various agri-horticulture products, like kiwi, kiwi wine, apples, spices (ginger, cardamom and turmeric), king chilly, bamboo shoot pickles, banana chips, tapioca flack, herbal teas and green teas, honey, lemon grass, red rice and quinoa. An audio visual on prospects of investment in Arunachal has also been produced and is being displayed at the venue.
Secretary Horticulture Tayeng shared that participating in the event was a huge opportunity for the State. “We are very happy with the response and business enquiries from foreign as well as Indian businesses. I am hoping that it will fructify into concrete results by way of investment in Arunachal and the sale of our produce not only in the country but also in international markets”, she said.
Echoing this, Director Industries Taru Talo said that the response we have received would greatly encourage farmers and entrepreneurs of the state to unlock the potential of Arunachal Pradesh in food industries.
There has been quite a lot of interest generated just on the first day of the exhibition, with the Arunachal arena receiving a large number of visitors who were particularly interested on ginger, quinoa, citronella oil and kiwi.
Companies like Patanjali, Best Life and Una Food Park have expressed keenness in possibilities of marketing and exporting organic produces.
Kiwi grower and Advisor of the Kiwi Growers’ Cooperative Society of Ziro, Hage Tara, who is also at the event, said that he has had productive discussions with many businessmen on the grading procedure, transportation and preservation of kiwis.
“I did not realize that there was such a big market for kiwi…many people came and appreciated our fruit both in terms of taste and appearance. I am very happy with the response”, he said.
Bidyut Kumar Baruah from Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt of India said that The APEDA was keen to export kiwi and oranges from Arunachal, just like they have done for Tripura pineapples, by way of cold storage facilities at the IG International airport.
Organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), at New Delhi from 3-5 November is a three-day mega event that is being attended by around 2000 participants, with over 200 companies from 30 countries. It has registered 18 ministerial and business delegations, nearly 50 global CEOs of leading food processing companies and 28 state governments are participating, and have set up their own exhibitions.
