Minutes of Meeting
Third co-ordination committee meeting for Pune
Fruits and Vegetables Cluster
Day and Date : Tuesday, 22nd
July, 2008
Time : 5.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Venue : Hall No.2, Mahratta Chamber of
Commerce, Industries & Agriculture, ICC Trade
Towers, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune – 411
016
Attendance :
1. Shri U. R Gotkhindikar
2. Dr. Vinod Karnik
3. Shri Suresh Bhosale
4. Shri G. V. Hardikar
5. Shri Vinay Oswal
6. Shri Pradeep Chordia
7. Shri M. A. Tejani
8. Dr. Mrs. Vasudha Keskar
9. Shri Suneel Waman
10. Shri Ajay Mehta
11. Shri Rajveer Singh – Director - APEX
CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
12. Shri Prashant Sardar, CGTMSE – INVITEE
13. Shri Uday Borawake - INVITEE
14. Ms. Samana Tejani - INVITEE
Following persons were also present:
1. Mrs. Shubhada Shintre - APEX CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES
2. Shri Sandeep Jagtap – APEX CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES
Shri Rajveer Singh started the meeting with welcome
of all the committee members.
Shri Rajveer Singh then explained about the Action
points of previous meeting.
(a) One of the major action points was “interaction
with the bankers and getting their representatives
to explain their financial assistance schemes”.
Shri Rajveer Singh informed that, we are starting
the process by inviting SIDBI representatives
in following fields to explain the schemes: 1)
Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for MSMEs, 2) Presentation
on credit rating by SMERA, and 3) SIDBI’s
financial assistance schemes for MSMEs.
Shri Rajveer Singh requested the members to fill
in the questionnaire related to SMERA and the
requirements of industries related to services
of BDS. He assured the members that some services
could be subsidized, from the project as pilot
initiatives.
(b) Training Programme on legislation and labeling
- 3 programmes have been already conducted.
On this Shri Tejani, informed that there are few
more changes in the Law. Hence we need to conduct
more of such training programmes. Shri Rajveer
singh assured that we will be conducting more
of such programmes in association with NAFARI.
Shri Tejani informed the members that there are
changed in the rules which are announced recently.
Every body was of the opinion that an event should
be conducted to appraise the food processing industries
about the new developments.
On this Shri Pradeep Chordia said that the All
India Food Preservers Association has also taken
up this issue at Ministry level.
It was discussed that a meeting / Seminar should
be held in Pune, involving industry associations
like FICCI, AIFPA, MCCIA and NAFARI.
(c) It was discussed in last meeting that a Workshop
on calibration should be held, as it is an important
issue for maintenance of quality. The said workshop
was held on 28th & 29th January, 2008, in
collaboration with NAFARI
(d) It was discussed in last meeting that a Standardized
Recipes should be uploaded on cluster portal –
Mrs. Shubhada Shintre informed the members that
one indicative recipe on Tomato Ketchup is written
by Dr. Karnik and has been already uploaded on
cluster portal. One more on RTC / RTE will be
uploaded in this month.
(e) It was discussed in the 2nd CCC that a sub-committee
of bankers should be formed, or we should call
representatives of banks in CCC. – Mrs.
Shintre informed that banks like Axis Bank, Yes
Bank, Electronica Finance, HDFC Bank, Bank of
Maharashtra, NABARD, have already been contacted.
They will be called for meeting turn by turn.
Tejani explained that the finance, delay in grants
are the major hassles for new unit or expansion
of existing units, to over come these problems
there should be separate agencies for looking
after and providing such facilities from concern
institutions.
(f) It was suggested by the CCC members that our
group should hand hold, evaluate projects, work
with bankers to help them deal with financing
of new as well as on-going projects – Shri
Rajveer Singh requested the members that CCC has
to decide the sub-group to handle this issue –
(as we have done in case of “curriculum
development”)
(g) In previous meeting members had suggested
that project should undertake Activities to sensitize
Ministries of Finance, Industries, Food Processing
Industries On this Shri Rajveer Singh informed
that Meetings with Director – APEDA, MOFPI,
have already been held.
Pending Points: Following points
were still pending to be fully done:
(a) Preparation of Model Projects and making them
available on cluster portal – this is still
to be done, but at present we have given links
to MOFPI and APEDA on the cluster portal, which
give the model project profiles.
(b) International benchmarks and market surveys
(c) Range of prices for standard machineries to
be made available on cluster portal – Shri
Tejani and Dr. Karnik suggested that only Stainless
Steel appliances which adhere to GMP norms should
be suggested on the portal.
(d) Mathadi Kamgar Union
Activities carried out under the project: Mrs.
Shintre gave presentation on Activities done post
2nd co-ordination committee meeting. The activities
are as follows:
(1) 3/1/2008: Half day training programme on Food
Legislation and Labeling for Spices, Pickles and
Condiments.
(2) 21/1/2008: Half day training programme on
Food Legislation and Labeling for Jams, jellies,
squashes, sharbats, sweets, etc.
(3) 29/1/2008 & 30/1/2008: Organisation of
Workshop on Measurement Accuracy and Calibration
of Process Control Equipments
(4) 15/2/2008: Exposure visit of farmers from
Mulashi block of Pune district to Junnar block
of Pune district
(5) 16/2/2008: Half day workshop on Food Legislation
and Labeling for women entrepreneurs, representatives
of SHGs
(6) 16/2/2008: Presentation on cluster approach
& Pune fruits and vegetable cluster in a workshop
arranged by Agriculture department, Government
of Maharashtra for agricultural officers of Pune
sub-division. This will help in arrangements of
sensitization programmes for 1) raw material suppliers,
2) pack house, 3) Self Helf Groups for preliminary
fruit and vegetable processing.
(7) 28/2/2008 to 3/3/2008: Participation in Pune
Expo 2008
(8) 7/3/2008: Half day “Appreciation Programme
on HACCP and SPS issues
(9) 8/3/2008: A structured meeting regarding expansion
of cold storage with additional development of
Pack house
(10) 8/3/2008: Structured meeting with farmer
representatives
(11) 12/4/2008: Sensitisation programme for Food
Technologists and project consultants for food
industries
(12) 21/4/2008: Structured meeting with M/S S.P.
Ranade & Associates regarding Energy Efficiency
Survey and Study
(13) 21/4/2008 to 25/4/2008: Survey of industries
for Energy Efficiency Study: Firms surveyed: PKM
Foods, Monsoon, Agro Bio Ltd; Adinath Agro Processed
Foods, Gits Food Products Pvt. Ltd; Gomukh, Hardikar
Fruit Processing Pvt. Ltd; and S. V. Foods.
(14) 26/4/2008: Sensitisation Programme on Energy
Efficiency
(15) 17/5/2008: Workshop on - Post Harvest and
Pack House Technology
(16) 18/5/2008: Workshop on - Fruits and Vegetables
Processing
(17) 23/5/2008: Seminar on “Packaging for
Food Processing Industries”
(18) 22/5/2008: Structured meeting with Dr. Naikare
(19) 30/5/2008: Structured meeting with Ms. Kalindi
Bhat and Mrs. Neha Gadre
(20) 26/5 to 30/5/2008: Trainers’ training
sponsored By project: Dr. Keskar attended Programme
organised by SGS on Lead Auditors course
(21) Structured meeting for establishment of cold
storage
(22) Structured Meeting with Dr. Karnik and Shri
Revankar of M/S Eco Fresh Cold Storage
(23) 27/6/2008: Organisation of Structured Meeting
to discuss development of curricula as demanded
by the food processing industries. At this point
Dr. Karnik shared with the members the purpose
of this activity and the response that is generated
to the same. He also informed the members that
post this meeting he along with with Mrs. Shintre
have had meetings with Institute of Hotel Management
and catering technology, and S.N.D.T. University,
primarily to know the facilities and courses available
with these institutions and what could be done
in association with the food processing industries.
Shri Tejani suggested name of one organization
called RACE, which recently had presentation in
MCCIA, and suggested to get in touch with their
representatitive.
Mrs. Shintre told members that next meeting of
the committee on curriculum development is likely
to be held on 29th July, 2008.
(24) 13/6/2008: Sponsorship to Ms. Soniya Nandre,
to Workshop on Traceability organised by SGS
(25) 4/6 and 5/6/2008: Workshop on Exports of
Processed Fruits & Vegetables & other
food products
It was informed to the members that 3 MOAs were
signed during the period, which are as follows:
(1) MOA signed with Gomukh for facilitation in
backward supply chain
(2) MOA signed with NAFARI as a facilitating organisation
for SMEs in mainly Quality and Training domain
(3) MOA signed with MCCIA for Printing of BDS
directory
Forthcoming Activities: Mrs. Shintre gave information
about the forthcoming activities till September,
2008, which are as follows:
(1) Printing of BDS directory: A special directory
giving information about Business Development
Service Providers for Food Industries, is in offing,
which will be done in association with MCCIA.
The MOA to that effect is recently signed with
them.
(2) Printing of booklet on FSSA: in light of
the new Food Safety and Standards Act, a booklet
on FAQs and salient features of FSSA will be published
which will be written by Shri U. R. Gotkhindikar,
Joint Director FDA (Retd).
(3) Energy saving (Dos and Donts) booklet: As
a result of the survey and sensitization programme
on energy Efficiency, TERI is in process of compiling
“Energy Saving (Dos and Don’ts) booklet.
This is scheduled to be released in August end
– Sept. 1st Week. Along with this a Sensitisation
event on Energy savings is planned in association
with lead BDS – S. P. Ranade Associated.
(4) Training programme for Cold Storages –
This is planned in association with lead BDS –
ACR Project Consultants.
(5) Training programme on energy efficiency –
After getting the response of food processing
industries on the sensitization programme mentioned
in point no. 3 above, a training programme for
workers and management staff of food processing
industries, on the issue of energy efficiency,
is planned.
(6) Entrepreneurship Development Programme for
Fruits and vegetables processing units.
At the end Shri Rajveer Singh invited every body
to join the CEO meeting.
The meeting ended with vote of thanks offered
by Shri Rajveer Singh.
Report on
Two day workshop on Export of Processed
Fruits & Vegetables and other Food Products
Friday, Saturday, July, 4 & 5, 2008
At Hall No. 4 & 5, MCCIA Trade Tower, ICC Complex,
Senapati Bapat Road, Pune – 16
Background of the workshop:
Over the year’s agriculture and agro based
industries have played a very vital role in the
Indian Economy and will continue to be the most
crucial sector in the future. If the exports of
agricultural and agro - based products increases
only by 1%, it will result in many fold increase
in the total GDP.
Globalisation, liberalization and inclusion of
agriculture sector under the purview of WTO, has
brought forth more challenges and opportunities
and hence demand for an effective strategy to
be evolved to maximize gains. India has competitive
advantages in certain Agricultural and processed
food products. But Indian Exporters will have
to improve their processing and packaging facilities
and adhere to quality standards to meet the international
demand.
Keeping these needs of exporters in view, Apex,
in association with MCCIA, had organized a Two-day
Workshop on Export of Processed Food Products.
The topics covered in the workshop were: Domestic
and international scenario, Role of Government
in Promotion of exports, Quality requirements
for processed food industry, Market intelligence,
Exports and international trade procedures, Export
finance, Export pricing, Export logistics and
presentation of success stories.
The event was inaugurated by Shri K. L. Sharma,
Joint Director General of Foreign Trade. He gave
information on Role of Government in Promotion
of Exports. Shri Ashoo Tiwari, DGM – SIDBI
– Pune, gave information about SIDBI and
Credit Guarantee scheme, and other important information
about SIDBI. First news letter for the Pune Fruits
and vegetables cluster was jointly released by
Shri Sharma and Shri Tiwari.
Faculty included: Shri R. K. Mondal, Regional
Incharge of APEDA, Mumbai; Shri R. G. Vaidya of
M/S Synergy Research, Pune, Shri Vaibhav Nagarkar,
Director – M/S Generation Next Business
Consulting; Shri P. N. Sapre, of M/S BVS Quality
Systems; Shri Vinay Oswal, Director – NAFARI;
Dr. Mrs. Vasudha Keskar, Director – MAARC
Labs Pvt. Ltd; Shri Anil Bijur, a Forex and finance
consultant; Shri V. Srinivasan, Branch in Charge
SIDBI; Shri Mani Nath Jha, cluster development
manager from SMERA, Shri Avinash Foujdar, Director,
Swavin Business Consultants Pvt. Ltd; Shri Rajiv
Sathe, consultant in logistics,
The last session was of “Experience sharing”
by Shri M. A. Tejani, Joint Managing Director,
M/S Gits Food Products Pvt. Ltd. He revealed his
success story, the pain points, difficult situations
from which his company went through, his principles
which are basics of his business, etc.
In both days we also arranged one – to
– one meeting with the faculty members.
BDS
Providers Showcase
Legal & IPR
Project
in Action 
