Boosting livelihood via packaging, branding & marketing of processed food products

ITANAGAR: The NERCORMP (North East Region Community Resource Management Project), Arunachal Pradesh and FIPS (Foundation for Innovative Packaging and Sustainability' have highlighted the importance of packaging, branding and marketing for processed foods, to enhance livelihood. This was also the theme of a webinar held recently by both the organisations.

Participating in the webinar as the chief guest, NERCORMP Chairman and Changlang Deputy Commissioner DrDevanshYadav, highlighted the efforts being made under the NERCORMP project to start FPUs (Food Processing Units) under CBOs (Community Based Organisations) and SHGs (Self-Help Groups).

Stating that 13 cooperative societies have been set up and 26 FPUs are on the verge of starting up, he stated that the FPUs must concentrate on the critical need of packaging, innovation and also seek design assistance from the right authorities to ensure success via good market-linkages.

Earlier dwelling on the basic objectives of the NERCORMP Projects, NERCORMP Project Director of Changlang District, N Sukajit said that the thrust is to improve the livelihood of local farmer communities as well as to preserve and conserve the environment. He welcomed the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) signed with with FIPS and expressed the hope that it will be a game-changer towards developing and promoting packaging of local produce, like mushrooms, areca nuts, spices, bakery products, fruit and vegetables as well as handicrafts.

Founder chairman of FIPS, Dr NC Saha shed light on the objectives and the mission behind the formation of the Foundation. He introduced his fellow directors who were instrumental in conceptualizing the idea of FIPS. He also introduced the mentors of FIPS, which include former Chief Secretary of Tripura Dr U Venkateswarlu, andalso former Chief Secretary of Manipur, RajaniRanjanRashmi. He also went on to introduce the national and international advisors of FIPS, thought leaders and chief consultants, who constitute the full team of FIPS.

DrSaha also explained the areas of work in which FIPS can offer its expertise, which are: Skill Development; Research & Innovation; Projects & Innovation and Publication & Policy Advocacy. To enable all this to be done, he highlighted the unique 'KITE' module of the Foundation, viz., Knowledge Platform; Information Package and Training & Education.

The Inaugural session of the webinar concluded with the 'Vote of Thanks' offered by FIPS director M.K. Banerjee. Thanking the Chief Guest, DrDevanshYadav and N. Sukajit for their inspiring words, he reiterated the commitment of FIPS to participate with a spirit of social enterprise in the projects of NERCORMP.

FIPS chief consultant Rahul Bhargava, initiated the second part of the webinar which consisted of three technical sessions with Dr N.C. Saha as the session chairman.

FIPS chief consultant SubhasBhattacharjee spoke on the 'Importance of packaging, branding and its relevance for NERCORMP'. Highlighting the opportunity of marketing organic produce from NE States of India, he pointed out that of the 130 products from India which have 'GI' (Geographical Indicators) recognition, from which 18 of those are from NE States. He also shed light on the opportunities offered by the Ministry of Food Processing schemes called PMKSY (PradhanMantriKisanSampadaYojana), specially for the 'Micro-Food Processing Enterprises' as well as the recently launched 'Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry'.

The theme of the next technical session conducted by FIPS director M.K. Banerjee, was 'Importance of Packaging, Branding and Marketing for Processed Food'. He highlighted the purpose of packaging and the need for increasing shelf-life of products to enable wider distribution and longer storage with reduced spoilage. He also described the various popular types of packaging formats used for packaging different types of food and beverage, including brief descriptions of the glass, plastic, paperboard or filmic laminate materials used in each type of packaging.

Finally, a session on 'Packaging Design to enhance Value Addition of Foods of Arunachal Pradesh' was presented by FIPS chief consultant Deepak Manchanda. He also presented the key elements of packaging design that can help to boost the sales of any product. The key elements highlighted were: Brand Communication; Aesthetic form; Disruptive presentation; Quality of finish and Being Indian! He highlighted how a small extra investment in design can hugely boost sales prospects.

Summing up the webinar, Rahul Bhargava pointed out the benefits of packaging not only as a means of value addition but also as a means to create employment opportunities.

FIPS is the brainchild of eminent packaging industry stalwart, Prof. Dr NC Saha, former Director, Indian Institute of Packaging and founder Chairman of FIPS. He is partnered by Prof. Dr. AnupGhosh, of IIT Delhi as Director (Training & Research), FIPS as well as MrinalKanti Banerjee, former Creativity & Innovation Director, EPL Limited (earlier EsselPropack Ltd.) as director (Innovation & Finance).

Several reputed organisations have announced their collaboration with FIPS to promote packaging research, innovation and training. These collaborative institutions, in addition to USTM, are: NECTAR; NI-MSME; MGU; FITT and NERIST, stated a release

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