Science and the Prime Minister-Words vs Action

No doubt our Prime minister is a great communicator and it is his ability to connect with the citizens through inspiring words, carried him through in last last general election to become what he is to day. Though many honest citizens believe that his actions so far between May 2014 and February 2015, a relatively short period he is in power, are marked by many decisions or indecision which are opposite to what he promised the nation. There is still lot of good will for him among the common man and people may yet give him some more time before making a value judgment on his performance. As a scientist this Blogger gets an uneasy feeling that he does not mean what he is preaching some times and his recent utterances on .science and scientists at the Indian Science Congress might be well meaning but his inaction in taking action to appoint to the post of Chief of CSIR belies that hope. It seems he has forgotten that CSIR, with 37 laboratories, 39 field stations and 17000 scientists belonging to different scientific disciplines is one of the biggest scientific assets of the country requiring nurturing through encouragement, resource investment and full policy support.

It is more than a year since the last Director General of CSIR ( DG) retired and till yesterday government did not consider it a priority to fill up that post! Is this not a serious lapse as CSIR is the largest scientific body under the government and keeping it headless is like treating it like a bureaucratic set up affecting the morale of the scientific community as a whole! It was only recently that the government sacked the Chief Scientist in Defense research unceremoniously which reinforces the impression that science has been put on the back burners, at least for now.Only to day there was an announcement that a new DG has been given the task of leading CSIR. Dr M.O.Garg the new appointee will have an arduous job on hand and how he can exert influence on this PM to get the needed resources and inspiration from him to run CSIR is a million dollar question. Have a look at PM's speech at the Science Congress on January 3 this year at Mumbai which is quoted below:.

"Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on Saturday morning inaugurated the 102nd edition of the Indian Science Congress hosted by the Mumbai University. Modi called for the need to rekindle the love for science and technology and the relaxing excessive regulations and cumbersome procedures for our universities to give a boost to research. Our scientists should be able to explore the mysteries of science and not get stuck in government procedures" said Modi. He added that our research is restricted to central agencies but it must be made broad based. "We have to place the university system at the cutting edge of the research and development activities in the country," he added. Speaking about the great work of Indian scientists, Modi said, "Just as children see sportsmen as role models, scientists should also be the same. Parents should feel pride in their children becoming scientists." He also lauded the work by ISRO for putting Mangalayan in the mars" 

PM's words about University system may be very apt but his minister for HRD does not inspire much confidence among the scientific community with her limited qualification, lack of experience and inadequate vision. University Grants Commission which controls the financial strings vis-a-vis Universities require urgent overhaul if the higher education system is to contribute any thing in the scientific research area. In sharp contrast to Universities in other countries like the US or Europe our Universities are a pale shadow of their counterparts. Most of them lack world class infrastructure for training and research in different areas of science and technology. The example of ISRO, which is role model for scientific achievements, must be emulated, simulated and duplicated in various scientific fields and this agency proves that our scientists are capable of delivering results if targets are well contoured and adequate resources are kept at their disposal. 

Another worrying factor is whether there is a possibility that indigenous research will be discouraged in the face of this PM's over drive to project India as a welcome destination for foreign players to pitch their tent in the country? Naturally they are bound to try to sell all types of technologies in the country, sidelining the efforts of Indian scientists which can be disastrous by doing a lot of harm to the scientific temper among youngsters of future generation. What the present government is missing in its pursuit of foreign technologies is that even to understand and evaluate the feasibility of foreign technologies under Indian conditions, technical expertise of a high order is required and if domestic research is neglected this capacity is bound to be degraded gradually making India a dumping ground for junk technologies of irrelevance to the needs of the country. One can only hope better sense will prevail on the part of the present government and science is given its due place as a priority area of action.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

FOOD IMPORTS TO INDIA-A STORY OF BUREAUCRATIC MUDDLE AND RED TAPISM!

Mr Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India is now in the US trying to lure American investments in India and enable him to raise country's annual GDP growth to 7-8% in the near future. It is remarkable that he has a vision which no politician of yesteryear or at present ever had regarding the development of India but when one looks at the ground realities even this man can do only limited things. Raising hopes and dreaming is not a crime since it at least boost up the spirit of the citizens, albeit for a short period. India has at present a green horn, unproven and innocent minister put in charge of the portfolio of food processing industry vested with the mandate to develop this agriculture related sector in a way that would boost farmer income significantly. Alas, one can only sympathize with her because if last three decades' experience is any indication nothing substantial is going to happen in the foreseeable future!

Above view may appear too harsh for many optimists who swear by the "potential" this sector has considering the exalted status India enjoys in production of milk, horticulture produce, plantation crops, sugar and cereals. Of course the legume crops scenario and oil seed front remain the Achilles heel for this country, India being the largest importer of vegetable oil in the world. Different "experts" may say different things when it comes to identifying why this dismal situation continues in spite of 67 years of independence! But the fact remains that the single biggest obstacle to food industry development is the government itself comprising short nosed bureaucrats and unimaginative politicians with their own selfish agenda. Look at the following report which appeared to day which speaks for itself the grim situation in this country when it comes to development of food processing industry.

"The story of 25,000 crores worth of food lying unused across the ports of India is one waiting to be told. We got in touch with people from the food industry to understand the current scenario regarding packaging and labeling of imported food products. Over 200 tonnes of chocolates, olives, alcoholic beverages, cured meat, cheese and other food products are catching dust in warehouses across the country. Products with a short shelf life are being pulled back and others are just sticking it out. There's plenty of ambiguity, lack of dialogue and absence of a well-articulated framework when it comes to rules and regulations regarding the food industry. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is responsible for laying down science-based standards for manufacturing, processing, distribution, sale and import of all food products. This regulatory body is the one point contact for all food manufacturers. We also tried to get in touch with the FSSAI over a number of days but did not receive a response. 


At first glance, everything appears to be in line. What could go wrong with a regulatory body trying to ensure that food imports meet Indian safety standards? For starters, the guidelines or regulations that the FSSAI follow are up to date. Mr. Amit Lohani, National Convenor for Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI) says, "The problem isn't that there are rules, but that these rules are old and irrelevant. The document that's being referred to is as old as 1954 and 1956. It's simply been rehashed to look new."  Makers of Lindt, the popular Swiss chocolate recently decided to pull out of the Indian market after a series of bruising losses. They saw six years of roaring success in the Indian market till they were struck by the FSSAI who asked them to comply with the labeling guidelines under the 'Food Safety and Standards Act, 2011'. In August 2013, three of their containers worth Rs.750 - 1000 crore (one third of which was chocolates) were held back. The FSSAI asked them to list down ingredients in descending order of composition by weight or volume. The company complied with the request and sent a fresh batch in January 2014 which also didn't make it past the ports because of a modified regulation which stated that chocolates with vegetable oil or fat could not be imported.  The food industry is already heavily regulated - and if an importer does not meet the labeling and packaging requirements, it's choked right at the point of entry. Food importers are growing tired of the exhaustive list of rules and regulations. This has set off an avalanche of lawsuits giving a bad name to the FSSAI, especially amongst those in the food industry.  In April 2014, a Starbucks shipment with two containers of flavoured-syrup was held back at the Mumbai port as the FSSAI felt that the product did not meet their basic requirements. A Starbucks spokesperson was quoted saying that the product in question met the requirements of over 64 countries and has been in supply for almost 40 years. Starbucks appealed to the Mumbai High Court which was quick in handing down its decision. The court asked FSSAI to release the shipment and also pointed out that they acted in an 'arbitrary and capricious manner.' "Mr. Amit Lohani from FIFI adds, "The dynamics and workings of the food industry have changed drastically. There are thousands of product categories and product sub-categories, each with its own unique manufacturing method. The FSSAI regulations aren't equipped to handle these which is what makes them regressive, not progressive." An importer of black olives who wishes to remain anonymous has been in business for over 20 years and tells us how his shipment of pasteurized olives was held back over the issue of salt content. "The minimum salt content in pasteurized olives needs to be between 1 to 1.5 %  but the products were tested against treated olives which are supposed to have a salt content of almost 5 %. The FSSAI was then informed that the salt content in pasteurized olives applies to international standards and is being tested against the wrong product. The FSSAI acknowledged this fact and released the consignment in question. But this problem can be repeated in the future with other importers because the rules are still the same. India is too small a market for big importers and this kind of hogwash approach will definitely drive away the big guns." Another interesting case is that of Canola oil. In April, large shipments of canola oil were held back for incorrect labeling. The labeling rules say that products need to use their 'scientific name' and not their 'trade name.' Canola oil happens to be the trade name and the scientific name is 'Rapeseed Oil'. Mr. Lohani said "A rule as vague as this suddenly wipes away years of marketing efforts that positioned the product as canola oil amongst consumers."  While food importers seem to be going through a world of trouble, so are restaurant owners. Chef Manu Chandra, Executive Chef and Partner at Monkey Bar said "Cured meats, ham, cheese and other products have disappeared from the market. We're being forced to look at alternatives which might mean we'll have to compromise on the taste, flavour and quality we've been offering so far. For many, this is a deal breaker." It is understandable that with increased awareness consumers want to know more about what's in their food. Nobody wants to stand in way of such kind of transparency. But current rules and regulations seem to be crippling the food industry instead of helping them deliver safe products."  ( http://cooks.ndtv.com/article/show/25-000-crores-worth-of-food-lying-wasted-598398)

This Blogger is not holding any brief for the importers of processed foods through this publication but is just raising this issue of food safety policies and all other things that go under the guise of regulations! From Day one since the so called food authority (FSSAI) was established it has been pointed out out that it is a "toothless wonder" capable of only putting road blocks for the growth of the food industry and this feeling is being reinforced by the above report in no uncertain manner. An unfortunate situation has been created in the country where no one is certain about the haphazard way this so called Authority is working and with millions of rupees invested by thousands of entrepreneurs in the food processing sector, their progress is check mated through unclear, ambiguous, dilapidated and impractical safety and quality standards. The implementing mechanism is so ineffective that only adulterators, fraudsters and dubious foods thrive in the country while honest entrepreneurs face enormous hurdles in staying alive in the market place. 

It is time that India dismantles its standards authority as it exists to day at the earliest and adopts entirely the standards laid down by international safety agencies like FAO-WHO Alimentarius Commission. An overseeing authority staffed by highly competent technocrats knowledgeable about food science and nutrition is put in place while the onus of implementing the standards are is put on the manufacturers with severe penalty for infarction.  

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

"MUSINGS" OF A PRIME MINISTER!-THE CLUELESS GOVERNMENT!

Any sovereign nation worth its name will have its own policies in different areas of endeavor that govern the day to running of the government and these policies, both short term as well as long term, are supposed to guide the rulers who have the mandate from the citizens to govern serving their interests. Such policies project to the world the character of the nation and assure the citizens about their safety and dignity. India which attained independence in 1947 has been striving to evolve its own distinct policies in areas like agriculture, defense, foreign relations, investments, exports and imports etc compatible with the provisions of Indian constitution.

One of the fundamental rights of an Indian citizen is access to food with right quality and in adequate quantity and the country's agricultural policy has always given primacy to the farming community which has the onerous task of feeding the population. During early stages of development emphasis was more on establishing necessary infrastructure to support and increase food production, though importance shifted later to industrial development considered imperative to generate employment. The share of agriculture continuously went down as manufacturing and service sectors started contributing to the GDP increasingly under favorable industrial policies and state incentives. The success of Green Revolution that boosted food grain production dramatically and the White Revolution which made the nation top most producer of milk in the world can be attributed to a right mix of policies and encouragement from the government.

Billions of rupees of investments on agricultural investments, farmer subsidies and export initiatives have not brought self reliance in case of foods like oil seeds and pulses and no one is sure whether this failure can be attributed to a lack of a long term cohesive agricultural policy. Why India has not been able to raise production of pulses and oil seeds is an issue being confronted by the GOI for almost three decades. The fact that GOI is concerned with it is reflected by the Missions launched earlier in nineteen eighties and nineties on oil seeds and pulses which did not make any dent in the deficit as far as these critical food commodities are concerned. It is always easier to blame the fragmented land holding pattern in the country which is supposed to be coming in the way of deploying modern technological inputs for any dramatic increase in the production of these food material. If the country has really a long term "agile" agricultural policy such distortions would not have taken place and still continue to haunt the nation.

Having ignored agriculture for such a long time it is surprising that the Prime Minister of the country is now harping on an "agile food policy" what ever that means. According to him such a policy should be "alive to the market reality and must dovetail the procurement and distribution system to provide stability in prices". He wants to ensure that such a policy must have mechanism to "respond to the market quickly so that prices do not fall to the extent of hurting the farmers or rise to the extent of hurting the consumers". With food inflation hovering around 15% the much talked about National Food Security Law (NFSL) is stuck between opposing ideologies of members of National Advisory Council and the impending implementation of the Unique Identification Authority scheme seems to have created further uncertainties about NFSL. Talking about "Green Revolution" and "Ever Green Revolution" has no meaning as long as concrete actions at the ground level materialize and probably nothing may come out of the present contradictions amongst the policy makers. Who prevented the government in evolving such a policy, after being in power most of the years after attaining independence may be an inconvenient question but deserves an answer from him.

A food policy that can make an impact must include setting of goals for production, processing, marketing, availability, access, utilization, consumption, nutrition, health and environment. It must cover the entire food chain from material resources to processing, retailing and consumer health. Food policies of most of the developed countries emphasize on less and less consumption of energy, fat, sugar and salt whereas for developing countries more stress needs to be given for food adequacy first followed by balanced mix of food components to meet the health and nutrition guidelines of a population, most of which are malnourished and under nourished. Whether GOI can come up with a policy frame work and implement it is a moot question in a federal set up like that in India where agriculture and food are state subjects, unless there is a strong leadership at the Center.

V.H.POTTY

http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/

http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

FOOD "R & D" INDICTED-WILL THE CULPRITS GET AWAY?

Ever since independence, modernization of Indian food industry was one of the priorities of GOI with major emphasis on rice milling and dal milling, the intention being increasing the yield of edible materials through improved processing. Emphasis later shifted to import substitution with a feverish pitch and R & D organizations were mandated to evolve products and processes indigenously. It was during eighties and nineties that food industry became visible and opening up the economy brought in many global players to India, making indigenous R & D more or less irrelevant with imported technologies and plants available with out any import restrictions.

During the last 3 decades there have been cries of desperation from many stake holders regarding the unimaginary policy flip-flops, unhelpful fiscal initiatives, archaic licensing system and massive neglect of infrastructure. It is rather funny to hear from no less a person than the Prime Minister of India to repeat the same after 62 years of independence.Listen to what he said at a recent conference of state food ministers at Delhi. "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday called for strengthening research and development (R&D) in the country's food processing industry with the Central Food Technology and Research Institute (CFTRI) playing a more proactive role. While basic agricultural research has a very strong and large institutional network in the country, there is little focus on the food processing sector," It is a pity that PM was not even briefed regarding the exact name of the Institute and one wonders whether he had ever any idea of its working. What is intriguing is why he has talked only about CFTRI alone and not others who are supposed to do research on foods. What about his own brand new "baby" NIFTEM, touted as the answer for country's ills vis-à-vis food industry when it was launched a couple of years ago? A CEO has the responsibility not only to exhort his people to raise their productivity but also wield the stick on those who are shirkers.

Who is to be blamed for this sorry state of affairs? GOI, for not focusing on processing as a means of preventing food wastage, industry for not orchestrating their needs forcefully or the food scientists for their purposeless research without trying to understand what is relevant to country's needs?. It is indeed a pathetic commentary on the sad state of affairs of food R & D in the country when country's top executive says that it has not played a "pro-active" role and literally meaning that investments running to more than Rs 300 crore during the last 15 years have gone down the drain! This state of affairs is bound to continue unless those responsible are made to pay for the colossal waste of public money!

V.H.POTTY

http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com