India has achieved self-reliance in food; now it's time for value addition: Chirag Paswan

Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan said on Wednesday that India has achieved self-reliance in food production. Now, Paswan added, the focus must be on adding value through food processing and giving farmers better market access.

"India has achieved self-reliance in food production, and our next priority is to create greater value through food processing by strengthening infrastructure and expanding market opportunities for our farmers. Our farmers are our ‘annadatas’, and every effort to strengthen the agricultural value chain is an investment in their future,” said Paswan at an event oragnised by Coca Cola India in Delhi.

Food processing is key to preserving products, adding value and taking Indian food from households across the country to global markets. India has moved from food scarcity to food security, and the next priority must be converting agricultural produce into value-added products, while ensuring farmers remain at the centre of this transformation.


“Processing can increase shelf life, reduce food wastage, create markets for farmers and generate employment. Schemes such as PMFME are helping small producers with financial support, technology, packaging and market access, while encouraging entrepreneurship and local job creation. India has immense potential in food processing, but there is still a long way to go. New technologies, stronger farmer linkages can help the sector expand and support India's ambition of becoming a global food basket,” noted Paswan.

He urged Indian industry leaders to never compromise on quality, saying global rejections damage the country’s image. "Made in India" must stand for quality and meet global standards. Even for small profits, quality cannot be sacrificed, Pawan added.

As global markets open through FTAs, there must be no compromise on farmers' interests or quality. Indian products must meet global standards so that "Made in India" becomes synonymous with quality, said Paswan.

“Agriculture is one of the largest sectors of our economy, and a large part of India's population is connected to it. If our farmers move forward, India will move forward. I have always tried to act as a bridge between the government, the Prime Minister, industry and the farming community. The ultimate goal should be to ensure that Indian food products reach dining tables across the world. If our farmers prosper, India will prosper, and food processing can play a crucial role in achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047,” he added.

According to a recent FICCI-Deloitte report, India’s food processing sector is shifting to value-led growth and could hit $600 billion by 2030. The growth will be driven by higher value addition, innovation, tech adoption and exports.

The report said India processes only 12-13% of its food output, well below developed countries, leaving big room for value addition. It pegged the processed food market at $560-580 billion by 2030, with the entire sector a $600 billion opportunity. Going forward, branded, processed and premium foods will drive growth more than just higher agricultural output.