Event: ISRMAX India interviews

Sunset at the end of the first day of ISRMAX India

Two members of the Grain and Feed Milling Technology team, Alice Neal, associate editor, and Darren Parris, international marketing manager, travelled to Delhi, India, December 13-15, 2012 to attend ISRMAX India.

Held on the site of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, the event covered the whole spectrum of food and feed production India.

Darren was privileged to meet Tariq Anwar, Indian government member for food and various other international dignitaries.

Vishal Gupta, ISRMAX India organiser (left) and Tariq Anwar, Indian government member for food (centre)

Over 350 companies were on site exhibiting a host of products so there were plenty of opportunities delve deeper into the grain and feed industries. GFMT readers will be familiar with the use of NIR analysers in grain so it was interesting to learn of a different application of the technology at the world launch of the FOSS Milko Screen. The machine uses NIR to detected foreign substances in milk. Adulterated milk is something of a problem in India with water and urea sometimes added to increase quantity.

The FOSS stand at ISRMAX India

We also found out about feed packing in the Indian market thanks to Rohit Mangal, executive director, Apple Flexipack, India. The company has the capacity to produce 200,000 bags 50 kg a day. Mangal says that a key issue for Indian customers is damp control so the company specialises in moisture proof packaging.

Examples of Apple Flexipack bags

The other exhibitors were keen to share their experiences of the challenges and opportunities of the Indian market…

DSM

What are the biggest challenges in the feed industry in India?

Raw material cost. Soy is the most expensive ingredient.  Over the last six months, soy prices have risen from 22 rupee per kilo to 45 rupee. Now for cost reasons, farmers are also using whatever by products are available such as rice bran and leftovers from rice polishing.

What are the most positive aspects of the Indian market?

Everyone is more concerned about quality. By applying better technology for example we are seeing a switch form mash to pelleted feed.  More and more people are using enzymes to reduce food costs and increase quality.

The DSM team man the stand at ISRMAX India

Biomin Singapore, Arvind Sharma, technical sales manager

What are the biggest challenges in the feed industry in India?

They are many challenges the industry faces but the main ones are: people are not so aware. They are not ready to adopt new technologies.

The government is not taking care of the industry.

Lastly, in the poultry industry, people are not working on how to improve feed consumption. Growth rate of product is very high compared to consumption.

What are the most positive aspects of the Indian market?

It’s a growing market as the population is very high. The industry can improve if people adopt new technology.

Many more international companies are entering India and there is a growing awareness of doing things in a systematic way.

Alice Neal, associate editor, GFMT and Biomin Singapore, Arvind Sharma, technical sales manager, Biomin Singapore discuss the Indian market

Lesaffre Feed Additives, Saurabh Singh, business development manager

What are the biggest challenges in the feed industry in India?

The main challenges are meal and the price of marketing. Farmers demand a good price.  Nutrition is not as balanced as we need it to be. But framers are open-minded. Selling a technical product is very hard. You have to convince farmers that the supplement is worthwhile.

What are the most positive aspects of the Indian market?

There is the opportunity to explore and try new options. There is a high demand. Supplying this demand is the challenge.

Saurabh Singh, business development manager, Lesaffre Feed Additives at ISRMAX India

Olmix, Sahil Bedi, sales representative

What are the biggest challenges in the feed industry in India?

Feed safety – often feed is not covered up properly. If it is not covered up properly, the feed will not keep and this can increase the risk lot of bacteria.

What are the most positive aspects of the Indian market?

Farmers are interested in storing products properly but unfortunately the government is not.

 Sahil Bedi, sales representative, Olmix talks to Alice Neal, associate editor, GFMT

Jaeckering, Julia Lamskemper, head of sales for Mühlen- und Nährmittelwerke

India is a new market for Jaeckering. It is a test to find out the demand for our products. A lot of people are very interested.

Julia Lamskemper, head of sales for Mühlen- und Nährmittelwerke, Jaeckering

AB Vista, Atmaram Yadav, sales manager

What are the biggest challenges in the feed industry in India?

For AB vista, it the cheap prices in India. India is more expensive than China but people are willing to pay.

What are the most positive aspects of the Indian market?

India is very accepting of UK companies and international business.

 Atmaram Yadav, sales manager, AB Vista

Silos Cordoba, Pablo Fernandez, Asia area manager

We are here because we think that this is the time for Asian countries. Even with the global crisis, these countries have been doing really well. Many governments are pushing the market, pushing the companies to introduce these kinds of technologies to store any kinds of cereals. So  Many competitors have been working here for a long period so it’s our turn: offering our products, our quality, shaking the market to get our piece of the cake.

Pablo Fernandez and colleague discuss the potential of the Asian market