Head, Dairy Engineering Division, N.D.R.I., Karnal – 132001.

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FROM PRESIDENT’S DESK

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FROM PRESIDENT’S DESK

We have just updated the page of Vth convention of our association, held at college of Dairy Technology IGKV, Raipur. The Dr A K Agarwal, the convener has beautifully summarized the whole event. The report prepared for NAVARD is placed on the web page for the benefit of our members. The report has also highlighted the salient recommendations emerged out of the two days deliberations. We are working to address some of the issues pertaining to low productivity zones. Our worthy member, Mr. Dev Gupta, consultant with BAAF Engg. Pvt. Ltd. has agreed to prepare project reports for 200, 500 and 1000 litres per day, mini dairy plants.

Our next convention is being planned for College of Dairy Technology at Tirupati sometime in February, 2009. We are working on details of the theme and sub-topics to make the seminar more effective.

It is also heartening to know that our membership has increased to over 105 life members. You can glance the list of members with their brief address. I have been repeatedly suggesting all the members to keep me posted with various events pertaining to our profession. Members are also requested to kindly spread the message to other Dairy Engineers who are keen to join us.

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FROM PRESIDENT’S DESK

Last time I had narrated the successful completion of our 5th convention held at Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur. We have updated our website with brief glimpses in the form of photographs. Our association is getting matured and we are in a position to tackle issues bothering the members in general. The basic purpose of forming this association was to address the professional needs and discuss with a wider group and recommend the consensus for its implementation. Since the formation of this association, we have enrolled about 100 life members. Most of the eminent dairy engineers of the country now feel the importance of such a forum.

The last convention has virtually repositioned our R & D strategies to address to the need of very small scale, milk producers and processors. This group forms the greater force in handling milk more than the organized sector. It is, therefore, pertinent to address their needs. A very strong recommendation which came out after the deliberation to prepare the feasibility report of milk processing center for 200,500 and 1000 litres of milk per day processing. Due to scattered milk production and consumption centers, the existing model where milk is collected, chilled and transported to large dairy plants for processing will not be a successful one. Our members have volunteered to bring out these reports for the benefits of entrepreneurs from low productivity regions.

The success of the association primarily depends on the participation of its members. I urge you to kindly view our site as frequently as you can and offers suggestions for the improvement. You may also post issues for discussions and deliberations The next convention is likely to be held at NDRI, Karnal. We are working in the possible theme and sub-titles for fruitful outcome. Your input will be acclaimed.

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FROM PRESIDENT’S DESK   

Dear Members,        

We have just concluded our 5th Convention of Indian Dairy Engineers Association (IDEA-2008) on theme “Dairy Engineering for the cause of rural India” held at IGKVV Raipur from 28-29th January. This seminar was attended by over 100 delegates from all over India. The details of topics were highlighted in my last message.

During the Convention, there were very strong views of the members to re-orient the concern for 22% of un-organized group processing milk into various milk products, who has capability of processing milk between 500 to 2000 litres per day. Our dairy processing industry has done well to harness 15% of milk produced through western model of milk collection, preservation, processing and distribution. Anand type model has also proven to be a successful approach for co-operatives, but not much is done for un-organized sector. The Chhatisgarh State and adjoining areas have very small level of milk production and processing. People normally do not drink milk it was felt that this forum should provide low cost technology to the small producers without confronting the organized sector. After the deliberations, to begin with, only one product i.e. Khoa and Khoa based products were considered an approach, as it is widely consumed milk product. However, very little is done to develop appropriate equipments suited to those areas. This association has taken a responsibility to get the feasibility report prepared and assess the existing status equipments/technology in the country and recommend the development of equipments wherever the appropriate size is not available. The problem of this area is challenging as right from low productivity of animals, lower skills of workers and poor infrastructure. Nevertheless khoa and khoa based sweets are consumed in large volume. Hence, the solution is needed to improve quality of milk products through innovative equipment designs so that the value addition could be done and the producers may get their higher returns.

During the occasion, two stalwarts namely Dr.T.P.Ojha, Ex-DDG (Engg.) and Dr R L Choudhary, Founder, Dean of College of Dairy Technology, Raipur were honored Life time achievement award. You will be gland to know that the success of convention could be gauged from the fact that we have received invitation for our 6th and 7th Convention for Dairy Science College, Patna and Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur respectively.

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FROM PRESIDENT’S DESK           

Preparations for the conduct of 5th convention of Indian Dairy Engineers Association is at peak. Dr.A.K.Agarwal, Convener is making all efforts to make this event a memorable one. It is time for all the members to prepare plans to attend this convention. I am told that they have planned to honour Dr.T.P.Ojha, founder professor of dairy engineering programme at IIT, Kharagpur. Now days he resides at Bhopal. Similarly, Prof. H. Das, professor emeritus, IIT, Kharagpur will be honored for his contributions for the growth of academicians in the field of dairy and food engineering and also contributed in developing a No. of equipments to make a dent in the profession of dairy engineering. Recently, Prof. Das has released a book on ‘Food Processing Operations Analysis’ which is a highly commendable book with computerized solutions (MATLAB) and meets the current trend of higher education.

Recently, an international conference on traditional dairy foods (ICTDF) is concluded at NDRI, Karnal. You will be happy to know that in one of the penal discussions, the leading alumni have made recommendations similar to the views expressed in our 4th convention held at Dairy Science College, Anand in April, 2007. Every dairy professional has started realizing that to impart one year training apart from practical conducted along with theory to B.Tech. Students at the cost of theory should immediately be stopped. They have suggested a training of not more than six months and that too at varied locations as per the aptitude of the students for better employability. Once a semester is made available, six new courses may be added after seeking opinion of senior alumini, dairy professionals, stakeholders, faculty members and the students. However, in general the views were to add the courses related to food processing and engineering. I am glad that other associations and societies are speeding up our efforts made at Anand.

Life membership of our association is growing day by day. Now, we have around 90 life-members apart from ordinary members. Please explore all possibilities to enroll more and more members to make the voice of dairy engineers heard by other professionals and the dairy engineers get their due share and respectability.