The cry by the processed food industry in India for adequately trained technical personnel who can be employed at reasonable salaries seems to have been heard if the recent report from TNAU regarding the launch of a new training program becomes a reality. There are several institutions/colleges which are providing graduate degree in food science and technology across the country, the intake students entering such places after the plus two stage and invariably these students are equipped to take up responsibilities for management of production, R & D and quality control. Unfortunately the food industry is reluctant to employ them because of various reasons which include high cost of taking and retaining them. The new PG Diploma of TNAU will hopefully be more practically oriented and affordable to the industry. Here is a take on the issue.
"The Directorate of Open and Distance learning, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), will offer a PG Diploma in Food Science and Processing for the first time during the 2011-2012 academic year. The course deals with subjects like preservation and value addition techniques of food processing, a press release from TNAU said. As India faces a food security crisis, scientific methods of food processing are much needed for its preservation, conservation, quality enhancement, market attraction and to increase shelf-life. Ways to counter food pilferage and to add value to the perishable, fragile, consumable and non-perishable food will be taught. The course will focus on processing of convenience foods, like ready-to-use mixes, traditional foods, quality control and preventive measures, food products and development, packaging, labeling and brand-making. The course also covers subject areas like value addition on tomato-based products such as jams, jellies, sauces, pickles and savories. Furthermore, the course will deal with preparation of snack items, processing techniques of meat and meat products, egg products and dry fish. The course invites applications from various segments of the public. The qualification is any science degree. Duration of course is one year consisting of two semesters of six months duration each. Study materials will be provided in the form of books with self-learning content. Contact classes will be held during weekends. Medium of instruction is English. The application can be obtained either in person or by post. The application fee is Rs 250 and Rs 300. The last date of receipt of filled in application is August 29".
Indian food industry is predominated by small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) which compete with giant transnational corporations with deep pocket. In order to survive in such a fiercely competitive market, the quality and safety of products churned out by these SMEs will have to be above suspicion with reasonable degree of confidence generated among the consumers. Since the new course in TNAU is of short term duration of one year, industry can afford to sponsor candidates for its own use after the course and the university must extend this option to the industry. This way the cost of training will also be defrayed by the industry. At present there is one similar course in Mysore but its focus is more on food analysis rather than processing. What is needed are such courses as being organized in TNAU in other parts of the country also for meeting the needs of the local food industries.
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