IGNOU and FICSI sign MoU for Capacity Building in the area of food processing sector
28 February, 2019School of Agriculture, Indira Gandhi National Open University has signed Memorandum of Understanding with FICSI (Food Industry Capacity & Skill Initiative) to strengthen the skill development activities and value addition in their activities through mutual academic collaboration.
The MoU covers development of educational/training programmes as per the National Occupational Standards (NOS) and Qualification Packs, Harmonization of IGNOU programmes with FICSI QPs, Apprentice training, Assessment and Certification of learners,Recognition of Prior learning and sharing academic resources.
Welcoming Hon’ble CEO, FICSI, Mr. Sunil K Marwah and other team members of FICSI, Prof. M.K. Salooja, Director, SOA said that there is immense potential in the sector and IGNOU and FICSI collaboration would help in enhancing the employment opportunities of the skilled human resource. Prof. Salooja also expressed gratitude to Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor IGNOU, Prof. Nageshwar Rao and Mr. Sunil K Marwah for their gracious presence and the encouragement for skill and vocational programmes of SOA.
Mr. Sunil K Marwah, CEO, FICSI in his opening remark at the MoU signing said that the collaboration between the two would help to create an ecosystem for skill enhancement for the food processing industry which accounts for 32 per cent of the country’s total food market and is ranked fifth in terms of production, consumption, export and expected growth. He hoped that the collaboration would help generate a pool of skilled workforce and also give impetus to entrepreneurship in the sector. Elaborating the need for such partnership, he added that despite its strong agricultural production base, a significant amount of food produce gets wasted in India due to inadequate infrastructure such as packaging facilities, storage, transportation, cold chain, and low levels of processing amounting to post-harvest losses account for US$1.5 billion (Rs 92,000 crores) annually according to the Ministry of Food Processing Industry (MoFPI).
Hon’ble VC IGNOU, Prof. Nageshwar Rao in his address complimented FICSI and School of Agriculture on the partnership which has the scope to empower the youth with skill sets to support the growing Food Processing sector. He also said that IGNOU’s pan India reach and FICSI’s expertise in the Food Processing would build capacity for the industry and provide employability to the youth in the country.
Dr. Mita Sinhamahaptra of SOA proposed vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to Hon’ble VC for being there for the signing of the MoU. She also thanked Mr. Sunil K Marwah, FICSI’s CEO and FICSI team for coming down to the university.
About FICSI
FICSI is a sector Skill Council for the Food processing sector supported by National Skill Development Corporation and leading industry layers in India with an aim to create an ecosystem for quality vocation education in food processing and allied sectors. It creates Occupational Standards (NOS) and Qualification Packs (QPs), develops competency framework, develops learning resources and assesses and certifies trainers. It also accredits well equipped service provides to disseminate the training.
