Answer: 

Food processing can be defined as the use of methods and techniques involving equipment, energy, and tools to transform agricultural products such as grains, meats, vegetables, fruits, and milk into food ingredients or processed food products. 

India’s food processing sector is one of the largest in the world and its output is expected to reach $535 Bn by 2025-26. (Ministry of Food Processing Industry) 

Potential of Food Processing industry

• Enhanced Shelf Life and Quality: Fresh fruits can be processed into dried fruits, jams or juices, preserving their nutritional content and extending their shelf life. 

• Reduced Post-Harvest Losses: A dairy farmer processing milk into cheese can reduce losses and make use of surplus milk, contributing to food security.

• Value Addition to Farm Output: A farmer growing tomatoes can process them into sauces, ketchups or canned tomatoes adding value to the raw produce.

• According to the World Processing Tomato Council (2015), 130,000 tonnes of tomato were processed in India.

• Infrastructure Development: The establishment of cold storage facilities and transportation networks supports the efficient movement of processed goods within the country. 

• Export Promotion: Processed and packaged spices from India, can find a market in various countries due to their convenience and quality. 

• $51 Bn Worth of agricultural and processed food products exported in 2022-23.

• Brand Building: Japanese sushi or Italian pasta sauces are examples of how processed food products contribute to building a country's culinary brand globally.

• Employment Opportunities: Setting up a processing unit for fruits may require hiring workers for sorting, processing, packaging, and distribution.

• The Food Processing industry contributes 12.22% Share in total employment. 

• Skill Development: Training programs can be initiated to educate workers in food technology, quality control and modern processing techniques.

The food processing industry stands as a transformative force, adding significant value to farm output by fostering market diversification, reducing waste, creating innovative products, and opening doors to global markets. Government initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme will help India to achieve its goal to become a developed nation by 2047.