Question

What percentage of horticultural produce is processed in India ?

Hint:

Fact: India is one of the largest producers of fruits and vegetables but has huge potential for expanding food processing.

Answer 1

In India, only a small portion of total horticultural produce is processed compared to developed countries.
On average, about 2–3 percent of India’s fruits and vegetables are processed into value-added products like jams, pickles, juices, and canned foods.
This percentage is quite low due to factors such as lack of adequate cold storage, processing infrastructure, and market linkages.
Increasing the share of processing can help reduce post-harvest losses, improve farmer incomes, and add more value to horticultural produce.
The Government of India is taking initiatives like Mega Food Parks and cold chain projects to boost the food processing sector.