NIFTEM-K 7th Convocation Highlights Food Processing Sector Potential
Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Shri Chirag Paswan addressed the 7th Convocation of the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K), emphasizing the immense opportunities in India's food processing sector. The Minister stated that the sector has significant potential to generate employment, promote entrepreneurship, strengthen farmers' incomes, and enhance India's global presence. He urged graduating students to become job creators and innovators rather than job seekers, noting that the government would support new ideas and initiatives aimed at strengthening the sector.
Shri Paswan highlighted India's vast agricultural base, diversity of produce, and large consumer market as strengths that position the country to emerge as a "Global Food Basket." He stressed the need to take food value chains, processing facilities, and technology closer to farms and rural areas to ensure benefits reach grassroots producers. The Minister made a strong appeal for maintaining quality standards, emphasizing that the quality of Indian products directly affects the global reputation of 'Brand India' and there should be no compromise on quality in the food sector.
Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries Shri Avinash Joshi highlighted the broader role of food processing in reducing food wastage, enhancing nutrition and value addition, creating livelihood opportunities, and encouraging entrepreneurship. He emphasized the importance of developing skilled human resources and encouraging students to pursue innovations that can create value on a larger scale.
Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairman of the Board of Governors at NIFTEM-K, emphasized that student knowledge and skills should contribute to both individual careers and national progress. He called for disruptive innovations to help India achieve global leadership in food technology, safe and nutritious food, sustainable processing, and value addition.
NIFTEM-K Director Dr. Harinder Singh Oberoi reported that the institute has made significant progress in academics, research, infrastructure, and industry partnerships. The convocation saw 260 students receive degrees: 140 B.Tech., 78 M.Tech., 18 MBA, and 24 Ph.D. students. Eight meritorious students were awarded Gold Medals for academic excellence and dedication. Dr. Oberoi stated that NIFTEM-K aims to equip students with capabilities in research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry-oriented learning to meet evolving sector needs.
Industry representatives provided sector perspectives. Dr. R. S. Sodhi, President (Food and Agriculture) at Reliance Retail Ltd., described food as a recession-resilient sector and noted that India's population of over 1.4 billion with changing consumption patterns offers substantial opportunities across the food value-addition ecosystem. Shri Deepak Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of Bikaji Foods International Limited, encouraged students to utilize emerging opportunities in the food industry, describing them as the sector's future.
The event underscored NIFTEM-K's role as an institution connecting research, industry, entrepreneurship, and government to strengthen India's food processing ecosystem and nurture the next generation of professionals and entrepreneurs.