Dairy is one of the income generating sectors of the country’s agro based economy
and the technological advancements are affecting the economy in positive ways. These
improvements enhance the employment opportunities and thus attract the career aspirants
to opt for the stream. The one who wish to have diverse field can opt for the discipline.
It requires the technological skills and the knowledge of animal husbandry.
Activities of the Field:
Collection of milk, processing the collected milk, storing the milk as well as the
accumulated milk products like collected fat or butter, Quality check, preventing
measures of spoilage, packing the milk, management of distribution and transportation
methods are the basic activities.
Courses offered in the discipline:
- Diploma in Dairy Technology
- Indian Dairy Diploma
- Diploma in Food and Dairy Technology
- National Dairy Diploma
- Advanced Diploma in Dairy Science and Technology
- Post Graduate Diploma in Dairy and Food Quality Assurance
- B.Sc. Dairy Technology
- B.Tech. Dairy Technology
- M.Sc. Dairy Technology
- M.Sc. Dairy Technology and Agricultural Extension
- M.Tech. Dairy Technology
- M.V.Sc. in Animal Husbandry and Dairying
- Ph.D. in Dairy Technology
There are few other streams related to dairy like Dairy Bacteriology, Dairy Chemistry
and Dairy Engineering. The courses are also offered in these specializations even.
Few Diploma courses are of 2 years and the Bachelor degree is from 3 to 4 years.
The Master course is of 2 years.
Though the curriculum differs from university to university, the core content of
the syllabus remains same. Dairy processing, Food processing, Membrane Technology,
Dairy and food packaging, alternative processes for the dairy and food industries,
lipid technology, protein technology, management of dairy industry, product monitoring,
processing control, computer knowledge, chemical and microbial quality, Food emulsion
technology etc. are the usual contents of the discipline.
Eligibility:
Passing in 10 + 2, with 60% in science and mathematics subjects, is basic academic
eligibility. Few of the courses admit the students on the basis of the score in
the conducted entrance test. AIEEE, JEE are the entrance examinations of B.Tech
and GATE is for M.Tech.
Job Prospect:
The demand to the professionals in the field has been dramatically increased with
the initiation of ‘Operation Flood’ and with the establishment of National Dairy
Development Board.
The main job in the field is Plant manager or industry supervisor of dairy plants.
The major recruiters are Nestle, Amul, Hindustan Unilever, Reliance, Mother Dairy
etc. There are more than 400 private sector dairy plants in the country.
Teaching in the colleges is another option. Several institutes and colleges recruit
Post Graduates with CSIR NET or Ph.D. holders as lecturers and Professors.
Self employment is the other best option. Instigating an entrepreneur is a good
income source. Apart from dairy plant, small scale industries like ice-cream production
or other dairy related products’ production units can be initiated.
The Payment depends upon the company and the experience of the person. It ranges
from 10,000 and above for a fresh Bachelor degree holder of the stream. The experienced
and skilled are given preference.
Thus, Dairy technology is a promising stream for the aspirants to have a great career.