A National Conference on Skill Development in Food Processing Sector Bridging the Gap - Building the Nation was organised here on Tuesday by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in which minister of state for food processing industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti stressed on skilled resource in food processing while participating as the chief guest.
In her remarks, the minister announced that the government of the day had already approved 138 food processing projects without revealing the investment in them, hoping that with the execution of the approved projects, the sector was likely to transform in the next few years.
According to her, the Make in India initiative will prosper and better take off with the food processing sector – the key focus area of the prime minister.
Referring to skilling, the minister said, “Skilling is already scaling up in the 11 states and gradually it will expand and cover the rest of India, the advantage of which will definitely percolate down to food processing sector.”
She added, “The skilled resource on this front will be absorbed in the proposed mega food parks that will not only drastically curtail the wastage of food products but enable farmers their due.”
In his welcome remarks, Dr Mahesh Gupta, president, PHD Chamber, emphasised that to realise the maximum potential in the sector, skill development was vital. The government should focus on skill development in various sectors. In a vast country like India, swift growth in the economy can only be achieved through sufficient skilled manpower which should match the requirement of the industry. Institutions like NIFTEM which are developing and training our youths should develop the curriculum and training modules in accordance with the changing scenario.
Dr Ajit Kumar, VC, NIFTEM, in his observations, shared the initiatives of the university, for skill development in the sector, adding that government’s support in terms of policies and grants for skilling is the need of the hour and the forthcoming Budget should have special provisioning to upgrade skills so that it acquires the required momentum.
Among others who participated in the conference comprised N M Kejriwal, senior member, PHD Chamber, its secretary-general Saurabh Sanyal; Amit Lohani, founder director, Forum of Indian Food Importers; Dr R.S Khanna, chairman, Kwality Dairy Ltd; Dr Anup Kalra, executive director, Ayurvet Limited; Dr Harsev Singh, chief executive officer, Reliance Dairy; Amit Dhanuka, CEO, Kejriwal Bee Care India Pvt. Ltd; and Sunil Goel, MD, Global Hunt.
