Career Opportunities in Food processing Industry

Food processing is a branch of food science, which owes its survival to the early times. Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food for the consumption of humans and animals. Processing of food leads to preservation of food, enhances its flavor and reduces the toxins in the food product. It leads to better distributional efficiency and helps in the easy marketing of the food product. The modern food processing techniques have led to the feasibility of the development of the present day supermarkets. Extra nutrients can also be added while processing the food and processed food is less susceptible to spoilage. The rising consumerism in the societies of developed and developing countries has contributed to the growth of food processing with techniques such as spray drying, juice concentrates, freeze drying and the introduction of artificial sweeteners, colorants, and preservatives.

Eligibility :

For B.Sc. in Home Science / Food Technology / Food Science, one should have passed 10+2 examinations with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as the main subjects. For M.Sc / Management, the minimum eligibility is a B.Sc. Food Technologists can specialize in any of the many fields of food processing such as sugar alcohol, bakery, oil, fruits and vegetables etc. one can do Ph.D in food technology or biotechnology or food preservation.

Institutes offering food technology courses :

Outstanding scope of food technology courses has given rise to many institutes offering various programs in food technology. Some of the best institutes in India offering the food technology courses are 1)Central Food Technological Research Institute in Karnataka, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 2) Haryana Agricultural University in Haryana, 3) Sardar Patel University in Gujarat, 4) Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies in Kerala, 5) The Women’s Christian College in Tamil Nadu, 6) Dr, Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathawada University, 7) Nagpur University,  University of Bombay in Maharashtra and 9) University of Delhi.

Career Prospects :

Despite the fact that food processing industry in India is at developing stage, it offers exponential career opportunities to trained professionals in food processing as there are nearly 500 million middle and upper class consumers and food processing companies do not want to miss the opportunity. Moreover, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has ambitious plan to set up more than 500 food parks across India in every parliamentary constituency so that a real food revolution can be brought about and employment can be generated.

Remuneration :

Food processing industry offers very good compensation depending upon educational qualification, skills, work experience and contribution in the production process. Location of the food processing unit matters a lot in salary offered to candidates; however, professionals working in food processing units in metro cities earn attractive salaries. An fresh graduate with good professional skills can earn salary Rs.8000/- to Rs.12,000/-. Similarly, those with work experience can earn Rs.15,000/- to Rs.25,000/-. Senior management persons with years of experience behind them can pocket very high salaries.