Dairy Technology

Over a period of time, dairy technology has become a lucrative field.

Technological advances in milk processing and milk products have come about very recently. Thus, milk processing is no more an art; it's a science. This is exactly what dairy technology is all about. Dairy technology deals with the various methods of handling milk from production to consumption; it includes processing, packaging, storage, transport and physical distribution.

Role of dairy technologists:

• Checking the cleanliness level in milk production and handling
  
• Assist in the manufacture of dairy products
  
• Test and ensure quality control of milk and milk products
  
• Marketing and economical aspects
  
• Managing small and medium enterprises
  
• To facilitate good manufacturing practices in the processing sector etc.
  

Training talks: There are graduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees in dairy technology. Diploma courses are also being offered by several institutions. The diploma and degree courses in dairy technology require candidates who have cleared their 10+2 with Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics with a minimum of 50 per cent.

The two-year diploma courses include Indian Dairy Diploma (IDD) and National Dairy Diploma (NDD). This is a basic course for B.Sc / B.Tech in Dairy Technology or Dairy Science. After graduating in dairying, candidates can opt for further studies and specialization through a Master's program i.e. M.Tech (Dairy Technology) or M.Sc (Dairy Science).

Job prospects: With more than 400 dairy plants in the country, dairy technology is a challenging career that offers plenty of job prospects for trained professionals. Openings for a dairy technologist are available in both, public as well as private sector. Dairy technologists can be placed in dairy farms, dairies, cooperatives, milk product processing and manufacturing industries etc. Quality control departments also recruit dairy technologists. Very often, dairy technologists work closely with producers, retailers, wholesalers, milk processing companies and also engineers and equipment designers. Dairy technologists who do not wish to work under others and are looking forward to starting their own business can establish their own small-scale milk plants, creameries, ice-cream units etc. They can also work as consultants. A consultant, however, needs several years of work experience in dairy farms to be successful. Besides this, there are also enormous opportunities in areas such as teaching, research and development etc.

Placement and remuneration: Dairy technologists are often assigned management roles in dairy plants, dairy facilities, processing plants and distribution centers. Dairy technologists with a strong Science or Engineering background tend to move towards more of the production and product development aspects of the job whereas those with business backgrounds may gravitate towards marketing and other management related aspects of the job.

Fresh graduates in this field are usually recruited in dairy plants as trainees and receive a stipend of Rs 7,000 - Rs 8,000 per month. On gaining a certain amount of experience, they can easily earn anywhere between Rs 12,000 - Rs 15,000 per month. Those at the management level easily take home around two lakhs to two-and-half lakhs per month. However, one should note that as the level of training, experience and education increases for a dairy technologist, the ability to assume management and senior research positions will also increase and so will the remuneration.

Future: India ranks first in milk production in the world. It is projected that by the year 2020, milk production in the country would be around 168 million tones. The Indian industry is poised to play a major role in the global dairy market and hence it is believed that to cater to the needs of modern dairy plants in the public, private and cooperative sectors, a large number of skilled manpower will be needed. Furthermore, there is and will always be a need to improve the safety and production standards of milk and other dairy products; so trained dairy technologists will always be in demand.

Institute index:

National Dairy Research Institute, Bangalore

Course: B.Tech (Dairy Technology)

Duration: 4 years

Eligibility: 10+2 or its equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English from a recognized Board/University.

Dairy Science College, Bangalore

Courses: B.Tech (Dairy Technology) / M.Tech (Dairy Technology)

Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Allahabad

Courses: B.Tech (Dairy Technology)

M.Tech (Dairy Technology)

M.Sc (Dairy Technology)

Indian Dairy Diploma (Dairy Technology)