Food processing involves transforming raw ingredients into food through physical or chemical means. It started in prehistoric times with methods like fermenting and sun drying. Modern food processing developed in the 19th-20th centuries partly to serve military needs and has grown rapidly since. Food processing provides employment, helps curb food inflation by reducing waste and middlemen, allows crop diversification, and utilizes India's abundant raw materials and geographical advantages. The government is also supporting the sector through various initiatives. Major food processing companies contribute significantly to India's GDP, which is expected to make the industry worth $258 billion by 2015.

1. RAUSHAN KR. PANDEY

2.  Food processing is the transformation of raw
ingredients, by physical or chemical means into food, or
of food into other forms
 Food processing started dates back to the prehistoric
ages when crude processing incorporated fermenting,
sun drying, preserving with salt, and various types
of cooking (such as roasting, smoking, steaming, and
oven baking).
 Modern food processing technology developed in the
19th and 20th centuries in large part to serve military
needs, and then it grown rapidly.

3.  Food processing is defined as taking place at a plant or
factory this is distinct from food preparation, which usually
takes place in kitchens many activities washing and cooking,
are common to both processing and preparation.
 Food processing refers to the practices used by food and
beverage industries to transform raw plant and animal
materials, such as grains, produce, meat and dairy, into
products for consumers. Nearly all of our food has been
processed in some way.
 The companies that process foods are sometimes called food
manufacturers.

4.  Increasing employment:
Food processing industry provides plenty of direct and indirect
employment opportunities, because it acts as bridge between
Agriculture and Manufacturing.
 Curbing Food Inflation:
In the last few years Food inflation has been a major
problem. well-developed food industry + compact supply
chain=reduces food inflation via:
Disintermediation (meaning no middlemen/commission
agents)
less wastage/spoilage of perishable products

5.  Crop-diversification:
we need crop diversification, all farmers shouldn’t be growing just rice and
wheat. But if want to seduce the farmers into growing other crops, then
following must be done
Promote food industry with backward linkages to farmers growing fruits,
vegetables, milk, fish, meat, poultry, grain, etc.

6.  Abundant Raw Material:
India’s
world Rank
In production of
1
milk, ginger, chickpea, banana, guava, papaya, mango,
buffalo meat
2
rice, wheat, potato, garlic, cashew nut, groundnut, dry
onion, green peas, pumpkin, gourds,
cauliflowers, sugarcane, tea
Among top
five
coffee, tobacco, spices, oilseeds

7. With such a huge raw material base, we can easily become
leading food supplier in the world
 Geographical advantages:
• 46 out of 60 soil types are present in India.
• More than 26 types of climatic conditions= can cultivate large
variety of fruits, crops, vegetables.
• Large coastline, villagers in 13 states engaged in fishing as
their secondary activity.
• Large irrigated area under cultivation. Ample supply of fresh
water for human, plant and animals.

8.  Government Initiatives:
• Many food processing sectors that were earlier reserved for small
scale industries (SSI) have been de-reserved
• FDI limits have been relaxed, Excise duties have been reduced,
export subsidies given
• National mission on food processing, Vision2015 for food
processing,
• New schemes for mega food parks, cold chain etc.

9.  All India Food Processors Association (AIFP) was established in
year 1943 by some highly accredited luminaries with a vision ,
which now encompasses a cream of the Food Processors in India,
involved in the processing of fruit, vegetables, meat and fish; milk
& milk product, and also the manufacturers of biscuit and
confectionary products, ready to serve beverages etc.
 Exports of processed food products, member industries account for
considerable portion of the same.

10. 1. Nestle India
2. Parle Agro
3. Britannia industries ltd.
4. GlaxoSmithKline consumer healthcares
5. Cadbury India ltd

11. Contribution of food processing sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of
the country during the last 3 years, for which information is available in the
National Accounts Statistics -2013
Year Contribution
2009-10 1.3
2010-11 1.4
2011-12 1.5
Contribution of Food Processing Industries to GDP Rising over
the years and is a source of income for 1300 million people and is
expected to be a $258 billion industry by 2015.

12.  Food processing company have great future, it will
create large number of employment and high
percentage rate in development of Indian economy.