Choosing a career related to food

One of the basic needs for any individual is food. Like any food, water is equally important for all living beings be it plants or animals or human beings. Water is essential to life on Earth and it makes up over 50% of our bodies and covers about  71% of the Earth’s surface. Only 2.5% of water is fresh, suitable for drinking, agriculture, and most industrial uses. 
Rapid population growth, urbanization, economic development, and climate change are putting the planet’s water resources under increasing stress. At the same time, freshwater resources per person have declined 20% in the past decades and water availability and quality are deteriorating fast due to decades of poor use and management, over extraction of groundwater, pollution and climate change.
Today, 2.4 billion people live in water-stressed countries. Many are smallholder farmers who already struggle to meet their daily needs, particularly women, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, and refugees. Around 600 million people who depend, at least partially, on aquatic food systems for a living are suffering the effects of pollution, ecosystem degradation, unsustainable practices and climate change.
There is no doubt that we need to produce more food and other essential agricultural commodities with less water, while ensuring water is distributed equally, our aquatic food systems are preserved, and nobody is left behind. This year’s World Food Day (WFD) theme is ‘water is life, water is food’ shows that global leaders are concerned about food and water. WFD is an international day celebrated every year worldwide on October 16th to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945.
As there is a challenge on one side and the other side can be how we are prepared to face the challenges. a career in water conservation or food production could be a better option . Aspirants may choose to study different courses offered by Agricultural Universities and Unique institutions in India. Students having science in senior secondary level are eligible for courses related to agriculture and also engineering.
When it comes to food production then agriculture is the key way. Apart from this we may get food from nature and other sources. Like agriculture there are options like horticulture which are related directly with food. Like production there are other professions like looking at safety at food items and preservations of food items. There are different career avenues’ when it comes to food.
Updates:
Scholarship Update: Kotak Kanya Scholarship is a collaborative CSR Project on Education & Livelihood of Kotak Mahindra Group companies, which is being implemented with Kotak Education Foundation – Kotak Kanya Scholarship will financially support meritorious girl students from underprivileged sections of the society to enable them to pursue higher education after passing out 12th standard. Girl students who have passed Class 12 and aspire to pursue professional graduation courses (including Engineering, MBBS, Architecture, Design, integrated LLB, etc) from institutes of repute (NAAC/NIRF accredited) will be provided scholarship of Rs. 1.5 lakh* per year to pay their educational expenses till the completion of their graduation . Aspirants may apply before 31st October.
Apprenticeships Opportunities: Indian Oil Corporation Limited, one of the largest commercial undertakings in India and a ‘Fortune 500’ Company as a measure of Skill Building Initiative for the Nation invites applications from candidates for engagement as Apprenticeship at Bongaigaon Refinery, Guwahati Refinery in different trades /disciplines like fitter, electrical, boiler, etc. Applications submitted through online mode would be accepted and the last date of submission of application is 20th November.
Ranjan K Baruah
(The writer is a career mentor and skill trainer and can be reached at 8473943734 or bkranjan@gmail.com)