Guwahati, July 15: Indian Institute Crop Processing Technology has partnered with a city-based NGO for a project to impart short-term training on food processing to economically-disadvantaged students in rural Assam.

The Guwahati-based regional centre of the institute, which operates under the ministry of food processing industries and is headquartered in Tamil Nadu, in collaboration with the NGO, Satej Axom, has selected five colleges in four districts that have shown interest in the project.

"Two colleges in Nalbari, one each in Majuli, Barpeta and Morigaon have shown interest in the project. We have already designed the training modules. It will focus on fruit, vegetable and spices processing besides manufacturing of bakery products. We have assured that all kinds of technical expertise will be provided to the aspiring entrepreneurs until they set up units on their own," Goutam Das, assistant professor and officer in-charge of the institute's regional centre, told The Telegraph today.

The modules of training will range from three days to a month. The objective of the project is to promote entrepreneurship among the educated youths in the rural areas. The project aims at covering about 25 colleges and institutes by the end of this year. A six-member faculty team will conduct the training.

"Apart from colleges and institutions, we are also focusing on the youths from farmers' families for provision of need-based training," Satej Axom president Bandip Dutta said.

"The idea is to form a farmer producers' organisation, which will supply raw materials to the trainees until they graduate and start their own ventures. We have already got in touch with the Small Farmers Agriculture Business Consortium who will play the primary role in the formation of the producer companies," Dutta added.

Satej Axom, which runs a fair-price outlet in Ulubari, has mobilised over 1,000 farmers and entrepreneurs across the state over a year. The NGO provides technical advice on production, financial aid and training.

"The long-term plan is to initiate courses on food processing in colleges and institutions of the state," Dutta said.

The institute's regional centre has so far mentored over 1,100 trainees since 2013. "We provide consultancy as well as incubation services at the centre here. Incubation involves use of our equipment by entrepreneurs at a nominal fee till they start units on their own. We currently have 53 machines at our business incubation centre," Das said.

"We will sign a memorandum of understanding with Satej Axom this month following which an orientation-cum- awareness programme will be initiated at the institutions. The training will start by August. A nominal fee will be charged from the trainees," he said.