MoU signed to create quality manpower in food processing sector

CFTRI, JSS college enter into pact

To produce quality manpower in food processing, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) has signed a memorandum of understanding with JSS College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Ooty Road, Mysuru, recently.

According to a press release, the pact under ‘Skill India programme’ is intended at strengthening BVoc and MVoc programmes offered at the college, with the support of Union HRD ministry in food processing.

Following the agreement, the CFTRI will organise customised courses in advanced areas of food research for supporting the aforementioned programmes at a subsidised course fee.

The scientists will get associated with these programmes as members of the academic bodies. The institute will also provide knowledge-based support to the programmes.
The initiative follows the outcome of a recent survey on skill demand in the food processing industry. It had emerged, during the survey, that the skills of available trained manpower is grossly inadequate to meet the growth and challenges ahead. Experts feel that this gap needs to be bridged by finding the right balance between applied research, capacity building, training and institutional networking.

The agreement was signed in the presence of CFTRI Director Ram Rajasekharan and Principal M Mahadevappa. Rajasekharan said, “This effort will contribute towards generating manpower and skillsets for the food processing sector and thereby industry will get immensely benefited in the long run.”

Other collaborations

CFTRI is collaborating with the State government for establishing a nutra-phyto incubation centre and common instrumentation facility (NPIC-CIF) for promoting neutraceutical industry.

The MoUs are in force with world food programme (WFP), New Delhi, for a multi-faceted collaboration to address hunger and malnutrition through government-based social safety nets and with Kerala government for supporting the food safety initiatives.

Partnerships with other academic entities include University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (UAHS), Shivamogga, for supporting research and pre-harvest studies; Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mysuru chapter, for helping local food industry; the American College, Madurai, for academic cooperation; JSS Medical College, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC and RI), Manipal University, Adhichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Mandya, for conducting an integrated MSc and PhD course in molecular nutrition; Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT), Tanjavur, for collaborating on advanced R&D problems and Jawaharlal Nehru Technical University (JNTU), Kakinada, for conducting a study on food processing industry, the release stated.