Nepal Flour Mills Association (NFMA) has participated in the 7th annual seminar on flour milling and flour processing organized by the Roller Mill Association of India on March 3 and 4, 2025 in Goa, India. The theme of the event was “The Future of Milling Vision 2030 and Beyond”. The Roller Mill Association of India organizes such event in every 5 years.
The event saw enthusiastic participation from more than 600 flour milling companies from India and milling companies from other foreign countries, as well as companies and experts related to food production, food safety, food management, and food processing technology.
Representatives of 16 flour mills of Nepal participated in the programme under the leadership of Kumud Dugad, president of the Nepal Flour Mills Association.
The 3-day event included extensive discussions and interactions on topics including the future of flour mills, wheat production, food security, new technologies, and challenges involved in this industry. A number of experts elaborated that satellites are used to monitor the area and condition of actual production, and to predict production, in order to monitor and increase production of various crops, including wheat.
This has helped in working in well planned manner to increase actual agricultural production including increase production of wheat. Similarly, the methods to be adopted when storing food for a long time were also discussed. Extensive information about new technologies was shared through an exhibition of machinery and equipment from technical companies related to wheat marketing, storage, inspection, and processing, the press release issued by NFMA states.
During the event, it was agreed that flour mill companies from Nepal and India will move forward together on issues such as mutual technology exchange, production of technical manpower through technical training programs, and food security.
Representatives from Nepal said that the programme was very encouraging, informative and useful. They pointed out that the knowledge gained from the programme will play an important role in wheat production, storage, inspection, processing, production of quality wheat products, and marketing in Nepal. Currently, one-third of the population in Nepal lives abroad and rice consumption is high as the staple diet. Based on this, the total industrial and domestic consumption of wheat is estimated at 1.2 million tons. Of which, Nepal has a shortage of 400,000 tons of wheat, which needs to be met from other countries, including India.
Although Nepal was importing wheat mainly from India, India has stopped wheat exports to Nepal for the past four consecutive years. This year, the Government of India has decided to export 200,000 tons of wheat to the Government of Nepal through the National Cooperative Export Limited. Meanwhile, the delegation met with the team of the Government of India Company (LBCI) in Delhi, including Anupam Kaushik, managing director of the Indian Wheat Import and Export Corporation (IBCI), on March 5 and had discussions on the smooth import of wheat to Nepal. In the past, there were difficulties in importing rice, sugar and other items. In this important meeting, it has been agreed to work in an environment of ease and trust for both parties by having in-depth discussions between the NFMA and the National Cooperative Export Limited on various issues related to the upcoming wheat import, resolving problems and difficulties.
The Federation of Roller Flour Mills India (FRFMI) honoured its president KumudDugad, who represented Nepal at the conference on the topic of The Future of Milling, Vision 2030 and Beyond. He was honoured in the presence of high-ranking personalities, including Member of Lok Sabha, Indian Parliament Praveen Khandelwal and the central president of the Federation of Roller Flour Mills India. We all feel proud that the Nepal Flour Mills Association is participating in such a big event for the first time and that being honoured on behalf of Nepal is a great honour not only for us, the flour mill entrepreneurs, but also for Nepal, the Nepali team had remarked.
NFMA president Dugad said that to increase wheat production in Nepal, organized wheat storage, and maintain food security, wheat-based products such as flour, semolina, bran, etc. He also conveyed the message that the NFMA is always ready to move forward in collaborating with various government agencies and stakeholders to produce quality products. We have proposed that the actual wheat production in Nepal be recalculated using various technologies, including satellites, and actual inventory data, and its actual data be made public.
The Government of India is planning to set up a technical training center in Lucknow to train technicians working in flour mills for capacity development on new technology-based production. The Government of India will form a Wheat Board as well. It was also informed at the conference that regular training opportunities will be provided to Nepal’s industrialists, businessmen, and technicians to share knowledge and new technologies.
