Experts discuss food processing trends

Dehradun, March 26

The Uttarakhand chapter of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised a conference on food processing industry here yesterday.

Anil Taneja, regional director of the PHD Chamber, introduced the theme and said the Indian food processing industry accounts for 32 per cent of the country’s total food market, one of the largest industries in India, and is ranked fifth in terms of production, consumption, export and expected growth.

It contributes around 14 per cent to manufacturing Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 13 per cent to India’s exports and six per cent to total industrial investment. The Indian food service industry is expected to reach US $77 billion approximately by 2021, growing at an annual rate of 10 per cent, Taneja said.

He said the PHD Chamber had taken the initiative to take forward the agenda of the Union Ministry of Food Processing to double food processing levels to 20 per cent by the end of its five-year term.

Chief Guest Subodh Uniyal, Uttarakhand Minister for Agriculture and Horticulture, along with Dr Ranbir Singh, Additionall Chief Secretary, participated in the conference. — TNS