Sonepat, Apr 8 (KNN) Targeting mainly the small and medium sector (SME) in India, the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) has taken an initiative to conduct short term training programmes to cater to the needs of entrepreneurs, exporters and policy makers in the food processing sector.

To be conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Food Processing Industry (MOFPI), the short term programmes offered at the apex world class institute in Kundli, Haryana during April and May 2013 are in pursuit of NIFTEM’s strategic goals towards capacity building and human resource development. 

The programmes would address the needs of entrepreneurs, consultants, managers, policy makers; representatives of the small and medium enterprises in the food processing sector and associated stakeholders; industry representatives, academicians, students, agricultural officers and self-help groups to equip them with the necessary resources and knowledge inputs.

In the wake of growing concern for food safety and impending changes in India’s food regulations, NIFTEM has designed the programme to make food businesses aware of the latest developments in the food sector.  It would cover food safety, quality, packaging and regulations while providing a platform for access to modern packaging material and packaging technologies.

The training will also impart the best management practices from manufacturing to branding.  Course titles include Development of functional foods, Quality issues in Indian meat processing sector, Food analysis, Food waste management, etc.

Admissions will be given to the first 25 desired candidates on a first cum first served basis.

The Food Processing Industry is the fifth largest sector in the Indian economy.  At present, it employs about 13 million people directly and about 35 million people indirectly. A huge number of entrepreneurs in this industry are small in terms of their production and operations, and are largely concentrated in the unorganized segment.

Further, the Food Processing Sector (FPS) contributes over 6.3 per cent to the country’s GDP.   Of this, the unorganised sector accounts for more than 70 per cent of production in terms of volume and 50 per cent in terms of value.

Some of the challenges faced by the SMEs in India are lack of access to technology resulting in low efficiency and low productivity, non-exposure to best management practices in manufacturing, marketing, distribution and branding; identification of new markets, lack of skilled human resources, etc.  (KNN)

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