Food processing is a new face for income enhancement 

Ludhiana, November 16, 2023: The ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), Ludhiana, kicked off a two-week training program on Food Processing, Packaging, and Value Addition of Agricultural and Livestock produce on November 14, 2023. 

This initiative is part of the Human Resource Development plan of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, involving technical staff from various organizations. The inaugural ceremony was led by Dr. Manjeet Singh, Dean of CoAET, PAU, Ludhiana. 

Dr. Singh emphasized the significance of mechanization in Punjab and stressed the need for similar advancements in food processing. He highlighted the growing importance of food processing as a means of income enhancement and its pivotal role in the current economic landscape. 

Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director of ICAR-CIPHET, discussed post-harvest technologies developed by ICAR and various organizations, including the private sector in India. He assured participants that the training would benefit both academic and entrepreneurial pursuits. ICAR-CIPHET, as a nodal institute in the post-harvest sector, is open to providing technical assistance to stakeholders aiming to become entrepreneurs or processors. 

The training program, attended by eleven participants from nine states across India, is coordinated by Dr. Arman Muzzaddadi, Dr. Rahul Kumar, Dr. Guru P. N., and Dr. Vikas Kumar, scientists from ICAR-CIPHET.