Project Reports
Fruits and Vegetables Processing, Dehydration, Canning & Preservation Projects
India ranks first in the world in production of fruits and second in vegetables, accounting roughly 10 and 15 per cent, respectively, of total global production. India have a strong and dynamic food processing sector playing a vital role in diversifying the agricultural sector, improving value addition opportunities and creating surplus food for agro-food products. Presently, a mere 2.2 per cent of fruits and vegetables are processed, even as the country ranks second in the world in terms of production. This is comparatively low when compared to other countries like Brazil (30 per cent), USA (70 per cent) and Malaysia (82 per cent).The National policy aims to increase the percentage of food being processed in the country to 10 per cent by 2010 and 25 per cent by 2025. Food processing adds value, enhances shelf life of the perishable agro-food products and encourages crop diversification.
Major vegetables grown are Potato, Onion, Tomato, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Bean, Cucumber, Gherkin, Peas, Garlic and okra. The major fruits grown in India are Mangos, Grapes, Apple, Apricots, Orange, Banana Fresh, Avocados, Guava, Lichi, Papaya, Sapota and Water Melons. Mango, accounts for 40 percent of the national fruit production and India is one of the leading exporters of fresh table grapes to the global market. The changing food habits are discernible. There has been a positive growth in ready –to-serve beverages, fruit juices and pulps, processed fruits and vegetables products, i.e., dried or preserved and dehydrated vegetables and fruits such as sauces, preserved onions, cucumbers and gherkins, green pepper in brine, dehydrated garlic and ginger powder, dried garlic and ginger, tomato products, pickels and chutneys, processed mushrooms and truffles and curried vegetables.
The market size of the food processing industry is likely to increase from Rs 4600 billion in 2003-04 to Rs 8200 billion in 2009-10, and to Rs 13,500 billion in 2014-15.In the coming years India’s share in the global processed food industry will get a raise from one per cent to three per cent. Indian food processing activity is still largely based on primary processing, which accounts for 80 per cent of the value addition. The government of India has set up a separate full-fledged ministry named “Ministry of Food Processing Industries “for the development and promotion of food processing industries. To boost fruits and vegetables processing, the ministry is extending financial support for setting up new units, modernization and upgradation of existing units. The Indian Food processing industry will continue to prosper, thanks to the rising income levels and modernized food retail stores.The food processing sector is likely to be the driving seat for the Indian economy.