Exclusive Interview! FICSI CEO Sunil Marwah talks about online training in food sector

The government has developed a comprehensive plan to realize the vision of making the country self-reliant through ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’. Food Industry Capacity & Skill Initiative (FICSI)—widely known as Food Processing Sector Skill Council—is a Not-for-Profit Organization, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 with the support of FICCI and NSDC. 

The sector skill council envisions to empower MSMEs in the food sector through training and enhance employability of the large number of Indian human resource. FICSI CEO Mr. Sunil Marwah shares his views and talks about the recent course modules and the LMS launched by FICSI.

Q1. How does the awareness provided by FICSI help the retailers and MSME workers, especially during COVID times?
There are two courses available currently on FICSI’s Online Training and Assessment Academy (https://trainingacademy.ficsi.in/). The courses entail Safe Practices for Retailers, Retail food handlers and MSME workers in Food Processing unit. Based on the guidelines of various authorised source, these modules are focused on developing some understanding on the SOP’s that can be followed in order to deal with COVID-19. These have been validated and supported by FSSAI, NIFTEM, FICCI, NSDC and various Industry Partners.

This initiative is a part of our responsibility to strengthen the small and micro-enterprises operations as well as the Kiraana store operators and distributors, so that they continue to discharge their role in the economy in a safer environment in such difficult times.

Q2. What is the duration of the certification courses?
These courses are self-paced learning courses with a total length of 90 mins. Available in Hindi, English and soon to be available in Malayalam and other regional languages, these courses can be attended by the candidate at their own pace and time suitability.

Q3. How will these training modules also help food handlers in the food processing industry?
The content of these courses focusses on spreading awareness and further discusses about the SOP’s that Food Manufacturers and Retailers should follow in their premises to better contain the spread of this virus which can contaminate the food items and can be transmitted via workplace operations. Person having the awareness regarding all these SOP will enhance his understanding and efficacy to handle the operations. The certificate is provided upon completion of a small assessment. This ensures that course subscriber has understood the SOPs properly and sound enough to implement the same across the work area. Pertaining to which there is a sense of customer satisfaction also which can be attracted.

Q4. Are there any new programs in pipeline that FICSI will introduce post COVID?
Yes, since the FICSI’s Online Training and Assessment Academy is live with its web portal and android app, FICSI is already working in full swing to digitalise all the existing NSQF aligned courses so that further trainings can be delivered through our online Learning Management Systems.

We are also keen on promoting MSMEs and Entrepreneurial ventures across the Food Processing Sector with skill programmes to spread knowledge and creating motivation.

Q5. Why do you think skill development in food processing industry is crucial?
These training enables the creation of Nano, Micro or Small-Scale Enterprises which cater districts’ food demands, provide the economic benefits to Farmers and bring down the agricultural produce wastage in the country. Since India is the leading producer of various crops, milk, meat and seafood, we still lack the processing and handling capacity greatly that results in the huge loss in GDP linked to agriculture and Food.

One of the advantages of the food processing sector is that it is always demand driven. So, entrepreneurs/ food processors will have repetitive demand from the consumers. Other advantage is readily and availability of cheap raw material and resources to manufacture the products which further eases the investment for the cottage level industries. Cottage level industry shall be pushed and made equipped to manufacture products Snacks, Sweets, Bread, Biscuits, and Pickles etc. to care to local food demand. There is also rising opportunity in Food and Grocery deliveries with an increasing demand for fresh and safe food.

Training based on these areas will enable delivering the better sector insights and further nurturing entrepreneurial ventures in this sector under Amta-Nirbhar Bharat initiative. Creating backward and forward linkages to ensure the long-term benefits of the candidates undergoing these programmes should be of prime concern to have a beautiful ecosystem for enabling opportunities for the youth.