Processing of horticultural produce low in India: Govt

Despite being the world's second largest producer of fruits & vegetables, India's processing of horticultural produce is low at 2.20%, the government on Friday said in Parliament.

Despite being the world's second largest producer of fruits & vegetables, India's processing of horticultural produce is low at 2.20%, the government on Friday said in Parliament.

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The low processing rate is because of the fragmented supply chain and lack of adequate infrastructure along the value chain, minister of state for food processing Charan Das Mahant said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

He said India is the second largest producer of fruits & vegetables in the world, with 71.5 million tonnes production in 2009-10. China is the first with production of 109.6 million tonnes.

Mahant said the government has adopted a vision document 2015 which has suggested strategy to ensure faster growth of the food processing sector.

Giving details of the vision, he said it provides for enhancing the level of processing of perishables to 20%, and increasing value addition to 35%.

Mahant said the vision document aims at increasing India's share in global food trade to 3% by 2015.

Besides, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been implementing various plan schemes for promotion and development of food processing sector by providing assistance to entrepreneurs so as to encourage private investment.