The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Dr Charan Das Mahant said that as per the latest Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for 2011-12 (provisional), total number of persons engaged in registered food processing units is 17.77 lakh, which was 1.15 lakh more over previous year’s number. As per ASI for 2010-11, the total number of workers in food processing units employed directly, indirectly, through contract labour as well as family members was 16.62 lakh. Out of 9.03 lakh workers directly employed, 2.59 lakh and 6.44 lakh workers were female and male respectively.
Information on unregistered food processing sector is released by National Sample Survey (NSS) Office every five years. As per the latest NSS 67th Round in 2010-11, the total number of workers in unregistered food processing sector were 47.9 lakh. Out of this, 11.9 lakh and 36.0 lakh workers were female and male respectively.