India's food market pegged at $550-600 billion, says MoFPI official
India's food market is worth an estimated $550-600 billion and is growing 6-7% a year, Ministry of Food Processing Industries Joint Secretary Devesh Deval said at Anuga Select India and Anuga FoodTec India 2026. The government wants higher processing across 16 sub-sectors. An APEDA official put 2025-26 agricultural and processed food exports at $53 billion.
Syllabus: GS3 · Indian Economy & Growth; GS3 · Food Processing; GS2 · Groupings & Agreements
Why it matters
Processing can increase the value of agricultural products and support manufacturing employment. The report describes a policy focus on raising processing levels across food-industry segments, with greater value reaching farmers as an objective. For UPSC, this connects agriculture with industrial development, export diversification and the role of MoFPI and APEDA. The officials' market and export figures are attributed estimates and reported data. Opportunities from a trade agreement depend on its implementation and businesses' ability to use it; the stated ambition to double exports is not a completed outcome.
Prelims pointers
- APEDA: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, the body whose official gave the 2025-26 export figure.
- India's leading agri-food exports: rice, meat, marine products, coffee and tea; processed food exports are steadily increasing.
- Key food processing segments named: cereals, meat, fruits and vegetables, and dairy; plant-based foods are an emerging area.
- The Netherlands, with about 18 million people, was described as the world's second-largest food exporter.
Practise a UPSC-style question
Consider the following statements about India's food sector as described by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries:
1. India is the world's second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables.
2. Food processing is the single largest employment creator in manufacturing.
3. India's food market is growing at 6-7 per cent a year.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Show the answer
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Food processing is the second-highest employment creator in manufacturing, not the largest.
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