India is one of the world's largest producers as well as consumer of food products. Food processing is a sunrise industry (annual growth rate of 10%) in India and is increasingly seen as a potential source for driving the rural economy as it brings about synergy between the consumer, industry and agriculture.With a large agricultural resource base, abundant livestock and cost competitiveness, India is fast emerging as a sourcing hub of processed foods.
Following is the scope and significance of food processing industry:
- One-third of the population is living in urban areas and this urbanisation will shift the consumption towards packaged and ready-to-eat foods.
- With favourable economic & cultural transformation, shift in attitudes & lifestyles, consumers are experimenting with different cuisines, tastes and new brands.
- Demand for processed food rising with growing disposable income, urbanising young population, growing middle-class, and nuclear families.
- Changing lifestyle and increase in awareness and concern for wellness and health has increased the expenditure on health and nutritional food like high protein, low fat, wholegrain and organic food.
- Government is supporting food processing activities with various schemes like Mega Food Parks, SAMPADA scheme, TOP scheme etc.
Food processing industry is one of the major employment intensive segments and can play a major role in encouraging the movement of labour from agriculture to manufacturing, thereby removing the problem of disguised unemployment and increasing the productivity of labour and wages.
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