MOFPI’S Push for Progress in 2024
The Food Processing sector has a quintessential role in linking Indian farmers to consumers in the domestic and international markets. The industry witnessed significant achievements during 2023 over the past year. The first and foremost is an increase of about 73 per cent in sectoral assistance through the Ministry budget in Union Budget 2023-24 to Rs 3287.65 crore from Revised Estimate of Rs 1901.59 crore in 2022-23.
The food processing sector continues to remain as one of the largest employment providers in the organised manufacturing sector with 12.22 per cent employment in the total registered/organised sector engaging approximately 20.3 lakh people. Unregistered food processing sector supports employment to 51 lakh workers as per the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) 73rd Round report 201516 and constituted 14.18 per cent of employment in the unregistered manufacturing sector.
Besides the ministry played a significant role in celebrating International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 which India proposed and hosted in association with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, successfully by organising a series of Millet Roadshows/ conferences/exhibitions in 27 districts spread across the country. The ministry has significantly augmented millets (Shree Anna) processing and preservation infrastructure through its schemes. 30 millet based proposals for Production Linked Incentive with an outlay of Rs 800 crore, which includes proposals from 8 large entities and 22 MSMES, have been approved during calendar year 2023 by the ministry under Production-linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industries (PLISFPI).
To showcase India's global leadership in food production and coinciding with the celebration of 2023 as the IYM, the second edition of the mega food event ‘ World Food India 2023' which was inaugurated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 3, 2023 served as a platform to showcase the versatility of millets, featuring a wide array of culinary creations, including various cuisines, snacks, and desserts incorporating these grains. An exemplary display of millet-based food items marks the food street organised by the Ministry of AYUSH.
World Food India had extensive participation from stakeholders across the board, including more than 1200 national and international exhibitors, representatives from 90 countries, 91 Global CXOS, 15 overseas ministerial and business delegations and MOU/ Investment promises of above Rs 33,000 crore.
In addition, so far, a total of 1825 loans have been sanctioned by the ministry amounting Rs 91.08 crore for individual millet processing units from various states under Pradhan Mantri Micro Food Processing Industries Upgradation Scheme (PMFME) scheme.
The ministry has also identified 19 districts with Millet Products as One District One Product (ODOP) under its PMFME scheme and has approved three Marketing & Branding proposals for Millet Products. Also, 17 incubation centres have been approved in 10 states having Millet Processing lines.
With special emphasis on millet, other key areas of the food processing sector such as grains, cereals and pulses, fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, dairy products and processed foods too received the deserved attention during 2023 as the industry is expected to reach $535 billion by 2025-26. The food processing industry has attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) equity worth $ 709.72 million during 2021-22.
India has a solid position in terms of production, but its position deteriorates in terms of food product export, particularly in processed form across all categories. Hence, it is imperative that the industry, along with all stakeholders throughout the value chain, unite and make concentrated efforts in order to establish a strong position in global processed food exports. With policy support and measures taken up by the ministry in accordance with all the stakeholders the food processing industry will see much more progress and growth in 2024.