INDIAN FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY: AN ANALYSIS OF OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN THE CURRENT SCENARIO 0 0

Abstract

This paper is a comprehensive exploration of the opportunities and challenges facing the Indian food processing industry. In today's globalizing food systems, India's food processing industry has significant potential for growth and development due to increasing incomes, urbanization and evolving consumer tastes. Furthermore, the industry benefits from a huge domestic market, agricultural diversification and government policy support. Despite these advantages, the industry has challenges such as the slow rate of transformation, a large unorganized sector, skill gaps and regional disparities, etc. Additionally, global food safety and environmental standards are posing challenges for India’s processed food exports. The industry's complex and heterogeneous structure includes coexisting formal and informal, small and large, high and low value-added, export-oriented and non-export-oriented segments, each with its own technological, output, and employment characteristics. Understanding these opportunities and challenges is crucial for designing effective policies to support the industry's growth and development.