Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spotlighted the extraordinary transformation of India’s food processing sector, calling it a true “sunrise industry” at World Food India 2023. Over the past nine years, the sector has drawn an impressive ₹50,000 crore in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)—a clear testament to the government’s pro-farmer and pro-industry reforms.
Key highlights of the sector’s growth include a 150% surge in exports of processed foods, now making up 23% of total agricultural exports, and a 15-fold increase in processing capacity, jumping from 12 lakh tonnes to over 200 lakh tonnes.
Major initiatives like the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, mega food parks, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, and 100% FDI allowance have played pivotal roles. Modi also emphasized reducing post-harvest losses, promoting sustainable packaging, and leveraging India’s rich culinary diversity—including a global push for millets.
Women, MSMEs, and farmers form the backbone of this expanding ecosystem, with over one lakh Self-Help Groups receiving seed capital support. As India positions itself as a global food powerhouse, this transformation stands as a shining example of how policy, innovation, and grassroots participation can reshape an entire sector.
