*Professor, G D Goenka World Institute, Sohna, Haryana, India.
**Director, Centre for Management Studies, Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi, India.
Online published on 27 November, 2012.
India is the world's second largest producer of food next to China, and has the potential of being the biggest in the food and agricultural sector (Yadav, 2006). The processing food segment accounts for 22.4 billion, in a total estimated food market of about $91.7 billion (Pai, 2006). The food processing industry is one of the largest industries in India (CII, 2006). It currently ranks fifth in terms of production, consumption, export and growth prospects. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has estimated that the food processing sector has the potential of attracting US$ 33 billion of investment in 10 years and generates employment of 9 million person-days. India can become the food supplier of the world. It has the cultivable land, all the seasons for production of all varieties of fruits and vegetables, an agribusiness system that works although it needs to be vastly improved. Because of some gaps in the supply chain, about 25 per cent of all foods produced in India are wasted. Strategic growth plans for achieving both national and international competitiveness of the food industry are essential.
