Food processing is a modern practice that develops distributional efficiency and improves the marketing of food products. It is regarded as a branch of food science, where a set of methods and practices are used to transform raw elements into food for safe consumption by humans or animals.
The food processing industry in India has been gaining momentum. There are now about 300 million upper and middle class consumers of processed and packaged food in the country. Another 200 million are expected to come into this fold. To further increase the growth and expansion of food processing industries, a total of 500 food parks are planned to be set up all over the country, a move which will generate enormous employment opportunities.
Food is processed, conserved, packaged and stored according to the stipulations of the industry and the government. The Food Corporation of India, which deals with the purchase, storage, transport and delivery of foodgrains and other food items, also provides employment to a large number of people.
Job prospects
The food processing industry in India generates a number of direct and indirect employment opportunities as it connects agriculture and manufacturing. In the coming years, there will be good demand for healthy and modern food products. India is also the second largest manufacturer of food next to China.
It is estimated that in a few years, the total food production in India could double, and this is an opportunity for food processing graduates. Some common areas of employment are dairy and food processing, packaging, canning, frozen food/refrigeration and thermo-processing. Some sub-sectors of the food processing industry are fisheries, meat and poultry, fruits and vegetables processing, milk and milk products, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, and grain processing. A candidate can also get the opportunity to work in consumer product groups such as confectionery, chocolates and cocoa products, soya-based products, mineral water, high protein foods, soft beverages, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic fruit beverages.
Skills required
Those looking to pursue a career in food processing should be assiduous, meticulous, prudent and hardworking, with organisational abilities and an eye for cleanliness and hygiene.
The growing segment offers exceptionally attractive employment opportunities for those who have technical qualifications in food processing. Here are a few tips to secure jobs in top-notch food processing firms.
Start early. Prepare for entrance exams that you can take soon after Class XII.
Develop soft skills. Being careful, meticulous, organised, sensible and hardworking, with a focus on cleanliness and hygiene, can give you an edge over others.
There is no match for practical judgment in this area of work. Candidates possessing outstanding domain knowledge always have higher employability.
Conditions of work
Most production-related jobs involve physically demanding work. To deal with tough working conditions and to comply with safety regulations, companies have started ergonomic programmes to cut down on work-related accidents and injuries.
Eligibility
You can take up diploma, certificate, degree and doctoral courses in this field. Some programmes are Diploma in Food Processing, Diploma in Food Preservation, Diploma in Food Processing and Technology, B.Sc in Home Science/Food Technology/Food Science, B.Tech in Food Processing and Technology, and Hotel Management/ International Hotel Management.
Remuneration
Salari es depend on the educational qualification, skills, work experience and contribution of the person to the production process. Location of the unit is also an important factor; professionals working in units in metro cities earn attractive salaries. An entry-level expert can earn ₹15,000 to ₹20,000. Those with a few years of work experience can earn ₹40,000 to ₹50,000. Senior management professionals with years of knowledge behind them can pocket high salaries.
The author is Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Director of CEDP Skill Institute, Mumbai.
