Bhubaneswar: The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) will identify, design and develop suitable packaging solutions for agriculture products, processed food products and non-farm products of SHGs, Producer Groups (PGs) and Producer Companies (PCs) promoted under Mission Shakti in Odisha.
A tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in this regard was signed among Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), Mission Shakti Department and Indian Institute
of Packaging (IIP) here Tuesday.
The IIP will partner with Mission Shakti for a period of three years towards standardising packaging practices of Millet Shakti products.
It will also facilitate and organise capacity-building training programmes on packaging technology for officials of the Directorate of Agriculture & Food Production, Department of Mission Shakti and WSHGs for targeting local, high value and export markets.
State Agriculture Secretary Arabinda Kumar Padhee said that women self-help groups in Odisha are producing a variety of products. However, they face challenges in packaging their products. He said the partnership with the IIP will bring about significant change and add value to their products.”
Joint Director, Indian Institute of Packaging Dr Babu Rao Guduri said, “IIP has been operating in India since 1966 and has gained expertise in the field of packaging.
The IIP, he said had collaborated with other states to improve the packaging of various products.
As per the agreement, IIP will have responsibilities, including conducting site and field visits to understand the packaging needs of Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) at different stages of the value chain.
The focus will be on packaging solutions for organic products, high-value markets, and export markets.
The institute will also organise training programmes on packaging technology for master trainers from WSHGs, as well as workshops and learning events on packaging.
They will provide handholding support and capacity-building programmes for selected WSHGs interested in undertaking packaging entrepreneurship.
UNI