The Minister of State for Food Processing, Prahlad Singh Patel, has highlighted the significant impact of government schemes on elevating the food processing industry to meet international standards of quality and safety. Speaking at the 3-day ANUTEC (International FoodTec India) & ANUFOOD India 2023 events, Patel emphasized the government’s commitment to sectoral growth and development.
Key government programs, including the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), the Pradhan Mantri Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, have played pivotal roles in advancing the food processing industry. These initiatives have empowered the entire food processing value chain to align with global quality and safety standards.
Prahlad Singh Patel highlighted the financial support provided by the government, with an allocation of Rs 4,600 crores for PMKSY and an additional Rs 920 crores reaffirming the government’s dedication to sectoral growth. He further emphasized the government’s readiness to support technological advancements and enhance competitiveness whenever necessary.
Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary (SME) in the Ministry of MSME, also addressed the event, emphasizing the substantial contribution of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to India’s GDP, accounting for 30 percent. The goal is to make MSMEs globally competitive and position them as the second-largest employment generator in India by 2047. Special efforts are being made to encourage women entrepreneurs through initiatives like registration under the Udium portal and the provision of higher subsidies.
The ANUTEC-International FoodTech India event witnessed participation from more than 800 companies representing over 28 countries, with specialized pavilions from Brazil, the Philippines, Turkey, Indonesia, Korea, Italy, and Iran.
Industry data reveals that the Indian food processing industry contributes 32 percent of the country’s total food market. The burgeoning food processing sector in India is expected to create 9 million jobs by 2024, signalling substantial growth. This sector also accounts for 13 percent of exports and 6 percent of industrial investment. With a market size of USD 1.3 billion, the thriving Indian gourmet food sector is experiencing an impressive annual growth rate of 20 percent.