The food processing sector, especially in the areas of spices and seafood, seems promising in the state with nearly 40 per cent of the project proposals presented to the industries department during discussions with would-be entrepreneurs in the run-up to Emerging Kerala, centering around it, according to officials of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation.
With Kerala being home to spices, seafood, coconuts, pineapples and more, the possibilities are simply endless and Emerging Kerala plans to devote an entire session to deliberating on how to tap this potential.
KSIDC executive director, T.P. Thomas Kutty, says that the corporation and other government agencies have been looking at setting up special exclusive food processing zones within industrial growth centres.
Proposals have also been received for a theme park for food processing.
Considering that Kerala had the majority share in the Rs 563 crore export of spice oils and oleoresins by the country and given the number of units and the quality of spice processing done in the state, it could become a hub of this industry, believe representatives of the All-India Spice Exporters Forum.
Meanwhile seafood industry sources regret that only around 20 per cent of the potential offered by the Rs 1,300-crore seafood processing industry is being tapped by the state.
A cold chain could not only help exports but also meet the needs of the domestic market better, they say , stressing that the availability of skilled labour is an advantage the state needs to leverage more.
Greater advantage for seafood
A.J. THARAKAN
Kerala has advantages in the food processing sector that need to be tapped in a big way, especially for export.
The advantage is greater in the areas of seafood and spices. But the disadvantage is that some of the vegetables and fruits are not easily available. Still, if such logistics issues are resolved, they can easily reach processing units.
The biggest advantage that the state has is its skilled labour. Clean water too is available. Kerala also has the advantage of being close to Europe and Africa. And this being a soft industry, it does little harm to the environment.
Kerala food is already well accepted by the Indian diaspora outside the country. And Indian food and cuisine is also to the liking several across the globe.
Building on this advantage, the state can, like Thailand and Vietnam, become a hub of food processing. The sector needs to be given a big push at Emerging Kerala.
(The author is managing director of the Amalgam Group of food processors)