How to Make The Fruit & Vegetable Processing Industry in India Globally Competitive

Despite ranking second in the production of fruits and vegetables, the level of fruit processing in India is very low, compared to countries such as the United States, China, and the Philippines. The fruit and vegetable processing sector is critical for the development of rural India as it provides a link between the two pillars of agriculture and industry.

The greatest challenge faced by the fruit and vegetable processing industry in India is the low and inconsistent availability of fruits and vegetables. Due to the low per capita availability of produce, most fruit is sent to the retail market and almost nothing is left for processing. Low farm productivity coupled with low capacity utilization of processing units makes fruit processing a high-cost low profits endeavor.

The fruit and vegetable processing industry in India can compete on a global scale once work on the following areas is undertaken:  

1. Productivity enhancement: better land utilization can be achieved using Ultra High-Density Plantation (UHDP). Plants are grown closer to each other to make the best possible use of the land provided.

2. Varietal Improvement: the cultivation of superior early, medium and late yielding varieties prevent gluts and stabilizes prices, thus reducing the risk for farmers.

3. Farm extension and sustainability: farmers must be educated regarding new practices in terms of nutrition, water, and climate best suited to grow new varieties. They should be informed about the adverse effects of using excessive manures and pesticides and how it not only affects yield and quality of produce but makes it difficult for the industry to export the pulp due to global health standards.

There should be cooperative systems to address competitive deficiencies of fruit and vegetable processing industry. The projects undertaken must address the gaps in terms of improving productivity, new varieties, farm extension services and market linkage for farmers.