India’s Third NIFTEM to be Established in Hajipur, Bihar

The Bihar government has given in-principle approval for the transfer of 100 acres of land in Hajipur, Vaishali district, for the establishment of the country’s third National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM).

This institute is expected to create opportunities for youth in Bihar in the fields of food processing, entrepreneurship, research, skill development, and employment.

The project is also expected to support farmers by promoting value addition in agricultural products, modern food processing technologies, and better market access.

NIFTEM

The establishment of NIFTEM is likely to strengthen Bihar’s food processing ecosystem and promote agro-based industries in the state.

The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) operates under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) of the Government of India and runs two major academic and research institutions. The history of both institutions is different:

NIFTEM-Kundli (Haryana)

NIFTEM Kundli was envisioned as an international centre of excellence for food science and technology.

Its official announcement was made in the Union Budget of 2006 by the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

In May 2012, it was inaugurated at Kundli, Sonipat, with an initial investment of ₹500 crore.

In 2021, it was declared a “Deemed to be University” under the “de novo” category through an Act of Parliament.

Second Campus: NIFTEM-Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu)

NIFTEM Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, formerly known as the Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT), began as a small research laboratory before gaining national recognition.

In 1967, it was established by V Subramaniam at Thiruvarur as a specialised R&D laboratory focused mainly on the preservation of high-moisture paddy.

In 1972, it was upgraded into a national laboratory and renamed the “Paddy Processing Research Centre” (PPRC).

In 1984, it was shifted to its present and expanded campus in Thanjavur.