5.3 Lakh Persons Required Annually in Food Processing Sector

As per a study conducted by the National Skill Development Corporation on “Human Resource and Skill requirements in Food Processing Sector”, the annual human resource requirement in Food Processing Industries is estimated at about 5.3 lakh persons including about 1 lakh persons in the organized sector. 

Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing a scheme for Human Resource Development (HRD) in the Food Processing Sector.

 The HRD Scheme focuses on developing technologists, managers, entrepreneurs and manpower for quality management in food processing. 

Under the scheme, assistance is provided for creation of infrastructure facilities in academic institutions for degree/ diploma courses in food technology and for setting up of Food Processing Training Centre (FPTC). During the 12th Five Year Plan, the HRD Scheme has been subsumed under the National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP), for implementation through State/ UT Governments. 

There are also two academic-cum-research institutions under this Ministry viz. National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) at Kundli, Sonepat, Haryana and the Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT) at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, which offer academic programmes at Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. level courses in food processing. The institutes are also conducting short term training courses. 

This information was given in Rajya Sabha today by Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Dr. Charan Das Mahant in a written reply.