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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Industry, govt must work on indigenous food processing machinery: Official
India must develop indigenous capacities in food processing equipment manufacturing to reduce its reliance on imports, even as it aims to harness its agricultural advantage to become a global hub in food processing, a senior government official said on Thursday. "Despite our success in production and exports, we remain heavily dependent on imported food processing machinery. It is crucial that the industry and government work together to build domestic capabilities and improve quality and scale," said Devesh Deval, joint secretary, ministry of food processing industries, at the National Conference on Food Tech organised by Assocham. Deval underlined the need to channel India's agricultural strengths into a leadership role in food processing by embracing cutting-edge technologies. "We welcome inputs from stakeholders and are open to facilitating broader consultations to identify concrete, actionable steps. What matters is taking timely and measurable action to strengthen every link in the food processing value chain," he said. During the conference, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched a national stakeholder consultation portal aimed at gathering inputs to develop more inclusive and implementable food regulations. 'FSSAI is already taking concrete steps to integrate technology in regulatory processes,' said Rao, calling on government bodies, industry participants, experts, and MSMEs to jointly create data-driven, tech-enabled food safety mechanisms. Sudhanshu, secretary at the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda), spoke about both the opportunities and hurdles within India's food processing landscape. Referring to successful traceability models in grapes, organic products, and millets, he stressed the urgency of adopting technologies like AI, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced packaging solutions to boost food safety and export preparedness. Vivek Chandra, chairman, Food Processing and Value Addition Council, ASSOCHAM, said the future of food security depends not just on production but on how food is processed, preserved, packaged and distributed. Against the backdrop of climate change and supply chain disruptions, he highlighted the critical role of next-generation technologies in driving efficiency, safety and sustainability. A joint knowledge report by ASSOCHAM and PwC was also released at the conference.
Mint
5 days ago
- Business
- Mint
India needs domestic food processing machinery capabilities to reduce imports: Official
New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) India must build domestic capabilities in food processing machinery to reduce its heavy dependence on imports, even as the country leverages its agricultural strength to emerge as a global leader in food processing, a senior government official said on Thursday. "Despite our success in production and exports, we remain heavily dependent on imported food processing machinery. It is crucial that the industry and government work together to build domestic capabilities and improve quality and scale," said Devesh Deval, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, at the National Conference on Food Tech organised by ASSOCHAM. Deval emphasised that India's agricultural prowess must now translate into global leadership in food processing through advanced technology integration. "We welcome inputs from stakeholders and are open to facilitating broader consultations to identify concrete, actionable steps. What matters is taking timely and measurable action to strengthen every link in the food processing value chain," he added. The conference saw the launch of a dedicated national stakeholder consultation portal by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to gather inputs for more inclusive and implementable food regulations. Alka Rao, Advisor (Science & Standards & Regulations), FSSAI, stressed that food regulation and technology must evolve collaboratively. She underlined the importance of creating structured, accessible databases and ensuring responsible use of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, with due caution regarding bias and data gaps. "FSSAI is already taking concrete steps to integrate technology in regulatory processes," Rao said, calling for collective action from government, industry, experts and small and medium enterprises to build data-driven, tech-enabled food safety systems. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Secretary Sudhanshu highlighted both the potential and challenges in India's food processing sector. While India's diverse agro-climatic conditions enable production of a wide variety of crops, the sector faces critical issues such as pesticide residue, perishability and lack of advanced processing and packaging technologies. Citing successful traceability systems in grapes, organic produce and millets developed in response to global market concerns, he stressed the importance of leveraging next-generation technologies like AI, Internet of Things and advanced packaging solutions to enhance food safety and export readiness. Vivek Chandra, Chairman, Food Processing and Value Addition Council, ASSOCHAM, said the future of food security depends not just on production but on how food is processed, preserved, packaged and distributed. Against the backdrop of climate change and supply chain disruptions, he highlighted the critical role of next-generation technologies in driving efficiency, safety and sustainability. A joint knowledge report by ASSOCHAM and PwC was unveiled at the conference.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘It just takes that one instance to have something happen': Bakersfield law enforcement cracks down on distracted drivers
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — April was Distracted Driving Awareness Month and on the very last day, Bakersfield police and the California Highway Patrol warned and cited 179 drivers for distracted driving. One look away from the road could be deadly. 'Our whole family has been devastated by it for a short phone call,' said Alfredo Marron. 'Never should've been 3 dead kids': Parents advocate for traffic safety at Bakersfield City School District meeting Alfredo Marron is the uncle of Ricardo Aguilar, an 8-year-old boy hit-and-killed while crossing Bank Street and Holtby Road in the historic neighborhood of Oleander The crash happened in October, and the driver, 40-year-old Judith Deval has been charged with the boy's death. Prosecutors said Deval was on her phone when she hit the boy. 'These phones are very distracting nowadays. We get the notification, we get the alert, we have reminders. Anything and everything just pops up,' said Marron. Deval's case was last called on Wednesday, the same day BPD and CHP held their distracted driving operation. 'It just takes that one instance to have something happen,' said Marron. Family calls for justice after 8-year-old boy hit by car dies People at Beale Park, just down the road from Ricardo's memorial, echoed how dangerous it is getting behind the wheel. 'I was driving a company vehicle, and she was on her phone and she smacked into the back of our vehicle,' said June Wy. 'I think it used to happen more often than it does now, I think that I've sort of learned my lesson to be completely aware at all times kind of a defensive driving thing,' said Kelly Hargraves. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘Aunt, I hit someone!': Reports detail crash that killed Bakersfield boy, 8
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Almost every day when she takes her lunch break, Judith Deval drives from her job at California Safety Training Corporation to Beale Park. As she headed there on the afternoon of Oct. 16, she came to a complete stop at the intersection of Bank Street and Holtby Road. Roosevelt Elementary School had let out; students and parents were walking in the area. Deval stayed put until families cleared the intersection, then proceeded forward. That's when the child 'came out of nowhere,' Deval told police. She didn't see the boy until he was in front of her car — then she felt a 'bump,' according to her statement to police contained in recently released court documents. She stopped and got out, but accidentally put her Toyota Camry in reverse instead of park. It backed over the boy. The child, Ricardo Aguilar, 8, died from his injuries the next day. Deval's attorney, Kyle J. Humphrey, calls what happened a 'tragic, terrible accident.' Prosecutors call it a crime. Other defendants arraigned in Potomac Park homicide Deval, 40, was charged this month with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence after an investigation determined she was holding her cellphone while driving — a practice that has been illegal in California since 2008. She has pleaded not guilty, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled in May. An officer at the crash scene asked Deval if she'd been on her phone. She said no, according to the reports. A witness, however, said he saw the Toyota stopped at the intersection, the driver's side window rolled halfway down. He said Deval had a cellphone pressed to her left ear. Questioned further on whether she had used her phone, Deval again said no, but couldn't remember if she'd been holding it. Later during the questioning, she said she remembered returning a call from her aunt, according to the documents. But she couldn't recall if she held the phone or was using Bluetooth, the reports say. An analysis of the phone revealed it had been in handheld mode, the reports say. Police contacted the aunt. She confirmed she was on the phone with Deval when the crash occurred. She said the call didn't last long. Deval told her she was on speakerphone, the aunt said. They were talking about a personal matter when Deval yelled, 'Aunt, I hit someone!' the aunt told police. She said she thought Deval meant she hit a vehicle. The call then disconnected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
Ricardo Aguilar's family calls for a conviction, defendant racked with guilt
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A tale of two mothers, one who lost a son, and one who was driving the car that killed October, 8-year-old Ricardo Aguilar was crossing the street on the intersection of Bank Street and Holtby Road…the heart of the Oleander neighborhood. Judith Deval, was driving a Toyota Camry when she hit Ricardo. Deval stayed on scene and immediately called 911. She has been full of guilt since that day. Ricardo's mother is still struggling with her son's loss. Carmen Aguilar is Ricardo's mother. He was the middle child of her three kids. 'It's been horrible, I cry every day…I can't sleep at night I just….I just can't sleep and I miss him,' said Aguilar. Ricardo was a student at Roosevelt Elementary, just two blocks from where he was hit. His family said he was an aspiring chef and had a smile that would light up the room. Judith Deval was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter and a felony, according to a recent court filing. The documents say Deval drove north on Holtby Road while using her phone. She stopped at Bank Street to let children and parents cross from the south sidewalk, then started moving forward after they passed, failing to see Ricardo walking east from the north side of the intersection. Deval's car hit Ricardo, knocking him forward and driving over him. She stopped and got out; but left the car in reverse instead of park. It traveled backward over Ricardo. He was taken to Kern Medical, and airlifted to another facility, but the best efforts of doctors couldn't save him. A witness said they saw Deval with her phone up to her ear and Bakersfield police extracted data from that phone, which proves she was on it the time of the crash. Aguilar's family wants a conviction. 'I hope she doesn't just get a slap on the hand either,' said Aguilar. 'Distracted driving is just as dangerous as drinking and driving.' We met with Deval's lawyer, Kyle Humphrey, who says that this is a tragic accident. 'She is devastated by it, she has so much…pain for that family and understanding for what they're going through. There was no alcohol, no drugs, no intention. A simple accident that could happen to anybody,' said Humphrey. On that fateful day, Deval was headed to read in the park on her lunch break. Like Ricardo's mother, Deval is also a mother of three, with her youngest being seven. Humphrey says she hasn't gotten behind the wheel of a car since. 'If I were able to diagnose her myself I would say she has PTSD, as well as extreme emotional difficulty with this. She's in therapy, she hasn't driven a car, she's afraid,' Humphrey said. Deval is scheduled to be in court on April 30. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
