Mean machines
Hi-tech
packaging machines are now making a breakthrough in India. Gautam
Bhattacharya checks out the latest in the business
Agro-produce
in India which includes fruitsand vegetables totalling almost 125
metrictonnes per year, is neither able to earn high value of FOREX,
nor able to provide the domesticmarket a choice of fresh fruits and
vegetables. In India, a high volume of such produce gets spoiledbefore
they see the light of the day, thanks to lack of proper storage, supply
chain and packaging facilities. Despite the fantastic growth in these
areas, a lot more needs to be done. With new upcoming technologies
making their foray intoIndia like MAP (Modified atmospheric packaging)
and CAP (Controlled Atmospheric Packaging) theface of agri-marketing
appears all set to change.
CONTROLLED
ATMOSPHERIC PACKAGING
The biggest benefit that Controlled Atmospheric Packaging (CAP) offers
is increase in shelf life of the involved agri-produce up to four
times its normal value. In this method optimum levels of oxygen, carbon
dioxide and temperature are maintained for increasing the shelf life.
Airtight chambers is the main component of the system along with equipment
for controlling as well as monitoring chambers. Since liquid nitrogen
is often used to flush these chambers, a liquid nitrogen generator
is normally kept at hand. Chamber air is circulated through carbon
dioxide scrubber at frequent intervals. The scrubber is made up of
carbon dioxide absorbing materials like hydrated lime, calcium or
potassium oxides. Thus CAP system maintains an optimum oxygen level
as well as carbon dioxide through a process of continuous monitoring
and controlling of storage air. A refrigeration unit is attached for
maintenance of storage temperature while a regulatory unit is attached
to the system to maintain and sustain the levels of gases involved.
MODIFIED ATMOSPHERIC PACKAGING
Modified Atmospheric
Packaging (MAP) creates packages that are suitable for retail market.
They are created in unit pack sizes as opposed to the bulk 23 TAJ
MARCH - APRIL 2005 Vol 3 Issue 9 Market Movers
Mean
Hi-tech packaging
machines are now making a breakthrough in India. Gautam Bhattacharya
checks out the latest in the business machines
FOOD
PROCUREMENT AND STORAGE
The Corporation is bound by the policies of the
Government in matters of pricing for procurement as well as for sale.
The details of the rates for purchase and sale vis-à-vis the
off-take under various schemes of India are listed in Table 1. Apart
from maintaining stocks procured by the
contd...
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