Opportunities Primary Processing Centers (PPCs)

Proposed Common Infrastructure at Primary Processing Centers (PPCs):

Agriculture produce would reach the Primary Processing Centers (PPCs). Thus the need for a well equipped unloading facility. This facility would ensure that all produce reaching the Primary Processing Centers (PPCs) are sent to manual sorting / grading section smoothly within minimum time and wastage. The graded, sorted washed & packed produce are stored in the warehouse. They would be loaded onto trucks at the requisite time so that they reach the Central Processing Centre (CPC) most efficiently. It is essential that wastage from loading is kept at a negligible level.

Crates:

For the purpose of safe transport of the perishable inputs, it is proposed to transport them in plastic crates. These collapsible plastic crates will keep on rotating between the Primary Processing Centers (PPCs), Central Processing Centre (CPC) and Collection Centers (CCs). To achieve an annual procurement of 20,000 MT/ year the average procurement per day will be approx. 68 MT. However procurement will not happen at constant rate round the year and procurement may reach upto 100 MT per day in peak season. Thus the requirement will increase to approx 7000 crates in the peak months of procurements to handle procurement of one day. Thus a total of 7,000 crates are planned at the Sikaria Mega Food Park (P) Ltd. with budget of Rs 25 lacs for the entire food park.

Weighing of raw material:

Weighing scales would be set up in each Primary Processing Centers (PPCs) inside the sorting / grading area. Weighing scales would facilitate to quantify amounts received, amounts rejected and finally the quantity of produces sorted and graded for packing.

Sorting:

The sole objective of this process is to adhere to quality criteria. Various produce of varied quality would reach the Processing Centers (PPCs). After the weighing and unloading are done, the product reaches the specified sorting area. The Produce shall then be sorted to ascertain the right quality of produce to be sent to Central Processing Centre (CPC). It is also essential that produce be sorted according to varied requirements of the units. The raw materials which do not confer to that quality norms set by individual units shall be kept aside.

Grading:

The same produce of similar quality may be required by two units. But some other differentiating parameters like size may be set by different units. The grading activity will be responsible to differentiate the raw produce according to such parameters. The size is the most vital grading parameter. Thus processable inputs can be segregated. The produce for table purpose is to be set aside for retail sale or as may be decided by the assigned authority. This complete process will be done manually at the Processing Centers (PPCs) with the help of Tables. For this purpose 2 tables are planned at each Processing Centers (PPCs) leading to a total 10 tables.

Washing/Cleaning:

The objective of this facility is to clean the raw materials. This is essential to ensure greater life of the raw produce which may get rotten due accumulation of dirt, etc. on their surface. Also it will help the units in the Central Processing Centre (CPC) that they would not need to get the produces through intensive washing / cleaning processes. This process would be product specific in the sense that washing shall not be recommended for all produces. On completion of this process the produce is sent for packing.

Packing:

The cleaned raw materials are to be packed properly so that they can either be cold stored or kept in warehouse to be dispatched off to the Central Processing Centre (CPC) later. The packing procedure would vary product wise. The packing is to be done taking into consideration the transportation time & road hazards so as to reduce wastage to a negligible percentage.

Warehousing:

The packed materials would be stored in the warehouse for temporary storage. The produce can be transported in the required amounts to the Central Processing Centre (CPC) near Agartala once it reaches the optimum volume for loading onto trucks.

Ripening Chambers:

Ripening chambers at Central Processing Centre (CPC) / Processing Centers (PPCs) location shall develop considering the availability of potential raw material i.e. Mango, Banana, and Papaya etc. in the vicinity of these locations.