Progress, challenges and opportunities in the food processing sector were the key issues discussed and highlighted at the recently-held All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA) seminar on “A decade of Progress, Challenges and Opportunities in the Food Processing Sector—Perspective 2025. The seminar also looked at ways and means to accelerate the development and growth in the sector.
According to AIFPA, food and food products are the biggest consumption category in India, with spending on food accounting for nearly 21% of India’s GDP. The Indian domestic food market is expected to grow by nearly 40%. India’s agricultural base is quite strong but wastages are very high and processing of food products is low. Processing levels are up to 80% in some developed countries, whereas the overall processing level in India has only recently reached 10%. Therefore, India’s food processing sector comparatively is small and its share in exports of processed foods in world trade has remained at around 2% while there is great scope to take it to 3% or more.
During the last decade, there has been substantial shift in the production, consumption and trade from food grains to high value agricultural commodities. However, there were disappointments amongst industry leaders about not achieving the goals for the last decade, they proposed an annual review mechanism for the industry to sustain the growth.
Further on the regulations front, a number of steps have been taken to improve agriculture production, supply chain management, taxations and food regulations and investments. There has been great emphasis on skill development and technology upgrade. In the last decade, a number of initiatives have also been taken by ministry of food processing industries and entrepreneurs to improve the situation.
Experts and scientists expressed views and presented papers on the theme of the seminar for the benefit of food industries and other stakeholders so as to help them in overcoming obstacles and in steering growth of the food industries in the country.
Union minister for food processing industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated the seminar in the presence of J P Meena, additional secretary, MoFPI; Dr Ajit Kumar, VC, NIFTEM; and P L Kaul, former president, AIFPA. During the inaugural session, awards / scholarships were given to outstanding personalities in food processing sector.
