 scheme for the food processing sector has delivered a strong boost to the agro-industrial economy){kind=link}
May 22: India’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the food processing sector has delivered a strong boost to the agro-industrial economy, driving significant employment growth and improving farmer livelihoods. With total investments exceeding ₹7,000 crore, the scheme has created over 2.5 lakh job opportunities and positively impacted the lives of approximately 9 lakh farmers across the country.
These insights were presented by Ranjit Singh, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), at the recently held ‘Foodworld India’ summit organized by FICCI in New Delhi. He shared that the government has supported more than 1,600 projects under this initiative, leading to the development of 41 lakh tonnes of additional food processing capacity nationwide.
Highlighting the broader impact, Singh noted that the food processing sector plays a critical role in diversifying agriculture, enhancing the value of raw produce, and cutting down post-harvest losses. These efforts not only help in meeting domestic demand but also contribute to increasing the export potential of Indian agro-products. With the right policy framework, India is well-positioned to become a major global player in food production and processing.
To unlock this potential, Singh stressed the importance of modernizing food processing infrastructure—particularly in areas like packaging, storage, and distribution—to align with global standards. He pointed to the Kisan Sampada Yojana as a key initiative that has enabled the creation of cold chains, agro-processing clusters, and food safety testing facilities.
Alongside this, the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme is also helping transform small food businesses. In the last five years, it has supported nearly 2 lakh micro-units through credit-linked subsidies and infrastructure assistance, helping many evolve into medium-sized enterprises.
Together, these schemes are laying the foundation for a stronger food processing ecosystem, supporting employment, entrepreneurship, and inclusive rural development. The PLI scheme, in particular, reflects India’s vision to scale up domestic manufacturing and build a globally competitive food processing industry that benefits both producers and consumers.