Decrease in food wastage needed to save impact on agri production

BATHINDA: The agriculture scientists have stressed the need to decrease food wastage which is impacting the food production in the country as more wastage of food increase burden on production. The scientists have also stressed the need for innovation to increase the stagnated agricultural production. The need was also felt to process the food products to supplement the farm income. The factors were deliberated upon at the inaugural session of the three-day national-level conference on ‘food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture-emerging techniques’ organised by Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology(IIFPT) at Baba Farid Group of Institutions, Bathinda.


It was stressed that to nourish the burgeoning human population much more effort and innovation is urgently needed to sustainably increase agricultural production, improve the global supply chain, decrease food losses and ensure that all who suffering from hunger and malnutrition have access to nutritious food. The agriculture is confronted with numerous problems including fast depleting natural resources like underground water table, declining growth in productivity, narrow genetic base and emergence of new biotic stress. In view of the limited resource base, designing new strategies, a paradigm shift and holistic approach are vital parameters to sustain agricultural growth for achieving much needed food and nutritional security.

Former scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre(BARC) Sharad P Kale stressed the need for stopping wastage of food and water conservation. He said there is dire need of preservation of food and feed those who are deprived. We need to invent disease resistant varieties of food grains.

Food Industry Capacity and Skill Initiative (FICSI) chief executive officer Sunil K Marwah said though, India is second largest producer of food grains after China yet there are many roadblocks in the way of growth in agriculture which need to overcome. He added that presently agriculture in the country is taking more from environment than giving back which also need to be reversed as it is highly impacting the climate change which finally affects the quality of food grains.

Agriculture scientist at Punjab Agriculture University, DS Brar, said along with increase in production there is dire need to increase nutritional values in food grains.

Chief Patron of the conference, Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal, said that the motive of the conference is to discuss the issues confronting the agricultural sector and the farmers, researchers and scientists in agriculture sector need to look for the solutions.