ICAR-CIFT Hosts Apprenticeship Workshop to Empower Youth

Shri. M.R. Premachandra Bhat, Regional President of SEAI, Seafood Exporters Association of India 
Kerala, inaugurating the ceremony.

ICAR-CIFT, Kochi, hosted a dynamic Apprenticeship Awareness Workshop on 20th November 2025 ,aimed at empowering unemployed individuals and plus-two qualified youth, opening doors to employment opportunities in the fisheries and food processing sectors. The event, organized in collaboration with the Zonal Technology Management & Agribusiness Incubation (ZTM-ABI) Centre and the Food Industry Capacity and Skill Initiative (FICSI), working under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship,focused on familiarizing participants with the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).

The inaugural session saw the welcome address by Dr. C.O. Mohan, Principal Investigator at ZTM-ABI Centre, ICAR-CIFT, followed by the presidential address by Dr. M.P. Remesan, Director In-Charge at ICAR-CIFT.The workshop, inaugurated by Shri. M.R. Premachandra Bhat, Regional President of SEAI, Seafood Exporters Association of India  Kerala, emphasized the importance of apprenticeship in boosting workforce competency and creating job opportunities.

The event featured expert sessions from Ms. Srijita Dutta, Manager, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) , Mr. Rajesh Krishnaraj, Yuva Shakti Foundation ,providing insights into NAPS implementation, financial incentives, and industry-specific skill development, And programme featured felicitations by Dr. Ram Mohan M.K., Director, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) , Shri. Ravi Shanker, Joint Director (Tech), Export Inspection Agency (EIA) .

The interactive session offered attendees from startups, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and educational institutions ,the chance to clarify queries on apprenticeship registration and job placements. Ms. Preeti Sharma, representing FICSI, concluded the session, reinforcing the significance of industry-academic collaboration in driving job creation.

This initiative provided valuable resources to bridge the skills gap, particularly for unemployed individuals with Plus-Two qualifications, encouraging their participation in structured apprenticeship programs that directly lead to employment in vital industries.