Inaugural address by Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, IIFPT, TNJAVUR (TN).
Food industry is the fastest growing industry in the present era. Food processing has an important role to play in linking Indian farmers to consumers in the domestic and international markets. To give awareness on above topic a webinar on “Opportunities and innovations for micro food processing enterprises” was organized for faculties and students of agricultural universities, entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups, food producers and Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) on 27.10.2020 under World Bank funded National Agricultural Higher Education Project – Institutional Development Plan (NAHEP-IDP), UAS, Dharwad.
Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan. Director, IIFPT, Tanjavur and the nodal institute for Prime Minister Food Processing Enterprises – PMFPE Scheme under AtmanirbharBharath, expressed that the primary agriculture alone is not remunerative today and secondary agriculture with value addition is necessary for economic and nutritional security. He also spoke about PMFPE Scheme, which focuses on training the entrepreneurs in terms of technologies, finance and other important issues related to business. Mr. Shivaraj B., Managing Director, KAPPEC, the Karnataka State implementing agency of PMFPE scheme, in his keynote address explained in detail about the schemes which would help the food processors. He said that there is target to establish about 11,000 processing units in Karnataka in five years period.
Dr. M. B. Chetti, Vice Chancellor, UAS, Dharwad, expressed about the availability of ample scope to start food processing units as India is blessed with variety of fruits and vegetables. He advised food technology students to become self-employed and generate employment opportunities.
Dr. D.V. Chidanand, IIFPT Scientist, Tanjavur (TN), elaborated on the guidelines, mode of operation and suitable technologies for the produce grown locally and identified under One District One Product (ODOP) for micro food processing enterprises.Dr. UmeshHebbar, Chief Scientist, CFTRI, Mysore and Former Regulatory Head, Britannia, Bengaluru and Dr. A. Savitri explained about the formalities involved in obtaining registration and license. Mr. ManjunathPatil, Head, Asia- Pacific region, Little Caeser’s USA, stressed on the importance of packaging, branding, labeling and marketing of food processing for better sales and expansion. Mr. MayurKamble, DDM (NABARD) Dharwad elaborated on how to prepare detailed project proposals for availing bank loans/ financial assistance. The IDP team and faculty of B.Tech. (Food Technology) degree programme, College of Community Science, UAS Dharwad organized the programme and nearly 350 persons participated in online mode.