India can emerge as global food basket with right push: Food processing minister Chirag Paswan
New Delhi: Union Minister for Food Processing Industries
Chirag Paswan
, on Friday said India has the potential to become the '
global food basket
' while moving towards becoming
Viksit Bharat
, provided the sector receives the right policy support and investment.
Speaking at a forum presented by
Instamart
, Paswan emphasized that the country's food processing potential remains largely untapped despite India's strong agricultural base. "We are not even 10% there yet. But if we navigate correctly, food processing can drive India's growth story and meet global hunger needs too," he said.
Highlighting the government's roadmap, he emphasized the need to build stronger rural and tier-2 infrastructure, bring private players into the fold, and strengthen backward linkages with farmers. "Private sector participation is crucial. Through various schemes, we are encouraging micro, small, medium, and large enterprises alike," he added.
Paswan underlined the role of technology, e-commerce platforms, and quick commerce in supporting the processed food sector, particularly in ensuring safer food and expanding market access. "Young entrepreneurs, especially from villages, are being hand-held through our micro-enterprise schemes. Many of them are using digital platforms to promote and sell their products," he noted, adding that such initiatives align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making youth job creators rather than job seekers.
He also announced the expansion of food technology institutes to skill and nurture young entrepreneurs. "A third Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (NIFTEM) is coming up in Bihar. These institutions will fuel the next wave of innovation in food tech," Paswan shared.
Paswan added that globally, Indian tastes are gaining popularity, citing personal experiences where foreign nationals often outnumber Indians at Indian restaurants abroad. "Indian delicacies have the potential to dominate global cuisine — it's now up to us to channelize this opportunity effectively," he said.
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