The food processing industry is growing at 7.68 percent, annually as per the latest data provided by National Accounts Division, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Rameshwar Teli, minister of state for food processing and industries, in a reply to a question on the growth of the food processing sector revealed that the gross value addition (GVA) of food processing industries has grown at 7.68 percent as compared to 4.98 percent growth of GVA of agriculture, forestry and fishing during 2017-18.

This, however, was contrary to the popular belief that the sector is growing at double-digit figures. Further, the ministry, in the past one decade, did not collect any data on the current situation with respect to the percentage of food processing taking place in the country.

The minister, replying to another question on scope of the development of the food processing sector, stated that the extent of food processing in the country was around 6.7 percent in 2010-11.

He said, “As per a study, commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and undertaken by the Institute of Economic Growth, the average extent of food processing in the country was 6.76 percent in 2010-11, and thus there is vast opportunity for food processing in India by creating and strengthening the infrastructure/logistics requirement, along the entire supply/value chain in the food processing sector.”

Teli briefed Parliament that food processing industries had immense potential in the country, as India had ahuge diversified production base and a low level of processing.

“As per the latest data released by the National Accounts Division, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the value of output from food processing industries in India, was estimated at Rs 11.61 lakh crore at current prices in 2016-17 and the gross value added (GVA) by food processing industries was Rs 2.49 lakh crore at the current prices in 2017-18,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the minister told the house that MoFPI has launched several initiatives to boost the food processing sector in the country.

One such initiative was World Food India (WFI), which took place in 2017. He informed that the first WFI in 2017 attracted investment intent of about $13.56 billion from domestic and foreign investors.

Besides, MoFPI is implementing a Central Sector Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) across the country for overall promotion and development of the food processing industries.

“PMKSY is a comprehensive package with the objectives, inter alia, of creation of modern infrastructure, along with efficient supply chain management, along the entire food processing value chain, i e, from farm gate to retail outlet. The outlay for PMKSY is Rs 6,000 crore for the period 2016 and 2020,” he told Parliament.

According to the government figures, the number of registered units as per the annual survey of industries 2016-17 are around 36,738 units currently operating in the country, while the unregistered units is perceived to be close to 24,59,929 units.