India is a leader in food production that expands at the rate of 30 % each annum. But the food processing industry of the country is still nascent. Food processing has gained immense importance in the last few years with the increase in health consciousness among people. This sector comprises of crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers, live stock and seafood.

The food processing industry covers a range of food products. These include the basic or primary foods, such as wheat and rice products, sugar, oil and pulses and the processes for converting them into edible form and the processed foods such as biscuits and bakery products, confectionery, dairy products, breakfast foods, meat and fish products, fruit and vegetable products and all such items which are processed and packaged to enhance and prolong their edible life.

Food processing covers a spectrum of products from sub-sectors comprising agriculture, horticulture, plantation, animal husbandry and fisheries. India is one of the major food producers in the world and has abundant availability of a wide variety of crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers, live-stock and seafood. Diverse climatic conditions and a long coastline have contributed to India’s position as a leading food producer.