Government Targets Increased Food Processing Production

Government Targets Doubling of Food Processing Capacity in 6 to 7 Years, Says Food Processing Secretary​

India Aims to Raise Agricultural Processing from 12–13% to Nearly Double​

New Delhi, February 24: The government has set an ambitious target to double India’s food processing capacity over the next six to seven years, according to a senior official from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

Secretary in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Avinash Joshi, said that India currently processes only 12 to 13 per cent of its agricultural produce. The aim is to significantly expand this capacity within the next six to seven years.

“Today, we process around 12 to 13 per cent of our agricultural products, and we are targeting that we will double that in the next six to seven years. What does that mean? That means that everything we have done in the last 80 years will be replicated in the next 6 or 7 years,” the Secretary stated while addressing a press conference in New Delhi.

Food Processing Expansion to Boost Employment and Farmers’ Income​

Joshi emphasized that the proposed expansion in food processing capacity is expected to generate substantial employment opportunities. He added that the move will also contribute to increasing farmers’ income by enhancing value addition across the agricultural supply chain.

The push aligns with the broader objective of strengthening India’s agri-processing ecosystem and improving the utilization of farm produce through modern processing infrastructure.

India’s Global Position in Fruits and Vegetables Production​

Harinder Singh Oberoi, Director at NIFTEM-Kundli, highlighted India’s strong position in agricultural production. He noted that India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables globally and the largest producer of mangoes.

However, Oberoi pointed out that in terms of food processing, India remains behind several countries, including Thailand, Mexico, and the Philippines. He said these countries are significantly ahead in processing capacity despite India’s strong production base.

ANVESH 2026 to Spotlight Emerging and Sustainable Healthy Foods​

Oberoi was speaking on the sidelines of an event announcing the “Advanced Next Generation Vision for Emerging and Sustainable Healthy Foods,” also known as ANVESH. The event is scheduled to be held from February 26 to 28 at National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli.

NIFTEM is a premier food technology institution functioning under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

According to the Secretary, the international show at NIFTEM Kundli will be a large-scale global conference. The event is expected to feature 33 speakers from 25 countries, along with participation from 61 exhibitors at the accompanying exhibition.

Strengthening India’s Food Processing Ecosystem​

The planned increase in food processing capacity reflects a strategic effort to bridge the gap between agricultural production and value-added processing. With enhanced infrastructure, international collaboration, and sectoral focus, the government is aiming to accelerate growth in the food processing industry while creating jobs and supporting farmers across the country.