Our daily bread to cost less soon

India, in collaboration with a Slovenian company, is all set to manufacture fully automatic bakery product machines; bread production will double and cost less

India, in collaboration with a Slovenian company, is all set to manufacture fully automatic bakery product machines; bread production will double and cost less

While consumers in the city have a treat in store with the latest technological advancement in the bakery sector making its advent into the country, bakery workers may stand to lose their livelihood.


Slice of joy: Once the new machinery becomes functional, the price of
a loaf of bread would come down by Rs 2. Representation pic

The introduction of fully automatic machines capable of producing 4,000 loaves of bread per hour against the present semi-automatic machines, which turn out 2,000 loaves per hour, will lead to the cost of bread dropping drastically. Not only will the cost drop, but also production would double once the industry starts using the fully automatic machine, which has been designed to produce various bakery products.

This is being made possible with an Indian company entering a joint venture with a Slovenian company to manufacture the machinery. The MoU was signed in the presence of the Slovenian Prime Minister HE Borut Pahor yesterday.

"Once the new machinery becomes functional, the price of a loaf of bread would come down by Rs 2-3. Other bakery products too would become much cheaper. While the semi-automatic machines, which are currently in use, produce 2,000 loaves of bread in one hour, this new technology will ensure that the production is doubled," said Girish S Rao, Director, Good Bread Ltd.

No hands please
However, with the machine performing 80 per cent of the work, does that mean bakery workers will be laid off from work? The President of the All India Bread Manufacturer's Association, Ramesh Mago informed, "We do not find labourers who are ready to work in a hot atmosphere at a bakery for a minimal salary. There is a huge crunch of manpower at all leading bakeries and this machine would solve our problems."

This advancement has however jolted the small bakeries fraternity. "Whenever some new technology is introduced in any sector, the small industry is directly affected. The wallet factor appeals to most consumers and we would have to work on giving them products, which are on par with branded products, quality and cost vise, all at our own loss," said a representative of a small bakery chain in the city.

Not for everyone
The machines, costing between Rs 3.5 crore and Rs 5 crore, would also ensure that products are untouched by hand. "It will be a huge investment for big bakers, but it is true that the small artisan bakeries would not be able to afford it," said H R Raghuram, MD, CS Aerotherm. The company will start the manufacturing process along with their partners from Slovenia within six months. With the venture receiving mixed reactions from the industry, it remains to be seen who would be at the losing end once this venture takes shape.