In News:

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), in collaboration with the World Bank Group, organised the SAPLING Dialogue 2026 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to strengthen food processing and value addition across South Asia.

About SAPLING

• South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth (SAPLING) is a World Bank-led multi-stakeholder platform that promotes policy reforms, investment mobilisation and Agri-Tech adoption to build resilient food systems. It complements the AgriConnect Initiative, which aims to benefit 300 million farmers by 2030 through improved infrastructure and policy support.
• Theme: "Unlocking Value: Advancing Food Processing for Employment Generation and Sustainable Growth in South Asia."

Key Highlights

• The dialogue underscored the need to shift the focus from agricultural production to value addition, recognising food processing, logistics and integrated supply chains as the next engines of agricultural growth.
• A major concern highlighted was post-harvest losses exceeding 30% in South Asia, which can be addressed through Farm-to-Factory integration, expansion of cold-chain infrastructure, improved storage and smart packaging.
• During the event, the report "Assessment of the Level of Food Processing in India" was released.
  • It noted that the share of food processing in India increased from 10% in 2016 to nearly 17% in 2023.
  • The report also identified substantial untapped potential in processing fruits, vegetables and dairy products, which can enhance farmers' incomes, reduce wastage and boost agricultural exports.