Awareness on food processing entrepreneurship among engineering faculty

Abstract

Government of India is promoting on development of startups in food processing sector. Being second largest producer of fruit and vegetables in the globe, Indian government choose food processing as “thrust and focus area” in 13th fifth-year plan. A questionnaire was developed to find the level of awareness in teaching faculty on food processing aspects. It was generally felt that faculty has minimal awareness on food processing areas. However results shown that they have high level of awareness on agricultural and food process aspects. In the light of faculty expected to be acting as mentors to promote thrust areas like food processing, a need is identified to train them. Aspects like surplus agri-products and production areas found to be known to people. However processed foods using technologies are not much known to the engineering faculty. To achieve the mission of Ministry of food processing industries, it is necessary to train manpower in the engineering colleges other than food processing institutes and farmers. Recommendations are made to strengthen the manpower in food processing entrepreneurship.