BHUBANESWAR, May 10 (KNN) Several engineering colleges and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) will offer courses in food processing from the coming academic session in the state.

Speaking at the horticulture and food processing conclave, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) secretary Panchanan Dash said, "Technical institutes have been asked to design specific training programmes for skill development in food processing with focus on plucking, grading and sorting, packaging and storing.

“The course will be funded by the National Mission on Food Processing,” added Dash.

It is noteworthy that only 1 per cent of the total crop produced in Odisha is being processed.

Agriculture secretary Rangalal Jamuda said the state should focus on non-paddy crops.

"The state had a paddy yield of about 95 lakh metric tonne (MT) this year, of which only 40 lakh MT will be consumed.  It has been a headache to dispose of the rest 45 lakh MT paddy. And with the Food Corporation of India not lending any support, this has led to distress sale. We have decided to switch over to the more remunerative non-paddy crops," Jamuda said.

The government, he said is also planning to set up 10 agro-industrial estates in 10 agro-climatic zones in the state.  (KNN)