PM Modi inaugurates World Food India 2025 in New Delhi

India is world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem, with many start-ups working in food sector: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a gathering during the World Food India 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Present on the occasion were Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, Union Ministers Chirag Paswan, Ravneet Singh, Prataprao Jadhav were present among other dignitaries at the event.

Speaking at the occasion, the Prime Minister remarked that farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and consumers were all present together at the event, making World Food India a platform for new connections, creativity, and innovation. He shared that he had just visited the exhibitions and expressed happiness that the primary focus was on nutrition, reducing oil consumption, and enhancing the healthiness of packaged products. The Prime Minister extended his congratulations and best wishes to all participants of the event.

Prime Minister highlighted that today, global investors—especially those in the food sector—are looking towards India with great optimism. “India possesses a triple strength of diversity, demand, and scale”, highlighted Modi, stating that India produces every type of grain, fruit, and vegetable, and this diversity makes the country uniquely positioned in the global landscape. He noted that every hundred kilometers, the cuisine and its flavors change, reflecting India’s rich culinary variety. The Prime Minister underscored that this strong domestic demand gives India a competitive edge and makes it a preferred destination for investors.

“India is operating at an unprecedented and extraordinary scale. In the past ten years, 25 crore people have overcome poverty and are now part of the neo middle class—India’s most energetic and aspirational segment”, remarked the Prime Minister, stating that the aspirations of this class are shaping food trends and driving demand. He emphasised that India’s talented youth are innovating across sectors, and the food sector is no exception.

“India is now the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem, with many start-ups working in food and agriculture”, exclaimed Modi, pointing out that technologies like AI, e-commerce, drones, and apps are being integrated into the sector, transforming supply chains, retail, and processing methods.

Modi highlighted that India continues to make active contributions to global food security. He emphasized that the strength of India’s agriculture sector has grown due to the hard work of farmers, livestock rearers, and fishermen, supported by government policies. He noted that food grain production has seen significant growth over the past decade. The Prime Minister stated that India is the largest producer of milk, contributing 25 per cent of the global milk supply, and is also the leading producer of millets. He added that India ranks second globally in rice and wheat production and has a substantial contribution in fruits, vegetables, and fisheries. The Prime Minister affirmed that whenever there is a global crop crisis or supply chain disruption, India stands firm and fulfills its responsibility.

He highlighted that the food processing sector is being actively promoted, with 100 per cent FDI now permitted. He noted that the sector has also benefited from the PLI scheme and the expansion of mega food parks. Shri Modi remarked that India is currently running the world’s largest storage infrastructure scheme. He affirmed that these government efforts are yielding results, with India’s processing capacity having increased twentyfold over the past ten years and exports of processed food more than doubling.

Highlighting the critical role of farmers, livestock rearers, fishermen, and small processing units in India’s food supply and value chain, Modi remarked that over the past decade, the government has strengthened all these stakeholders. The Prime Minister noted that more than 85 per cent of farmers in India are small or marginal, and therefore, policies and support systems were developed to empower them. He emphasised that today, these small farmers are emerging as a major force in the market.

Pointing out that micro food processing units are being operated by self-help groups, which include crores of villagers across India, Modi stated that the government is supporting these groups through credit-linked subsidies, and Rs 800 crore has already been transferred to beneficiaries. He listed examples such as basmati rice, saffron, and walnuts from Kashmir; jams and apple juice from Himachal; millet cookies from Rajasthan; soya nuggets from Madhya Pradesh; superfood makhana from Bihar; peanut oil and jaggery from Maharashtra; and banana chips and coconut oil from Kerala. He affirmed that from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, FPOs are delivering India’s agricultural diversity to every household. The Prime Minister shared that over 1,100 FPOs have become millionaires, with annual turnovers exceeding ₹1 crore, and are playing a vital role in increasing farmers’ incomes and generating employment for youth.

Modi highlighted that along side FPOs, cooperatives hold immense strength in India. He noted that this year marks the International Year of Cooperatives, and within India, cooperatives are empowering the dairy sector and rural economy. Recognizing their importance, the Prime Minister stated that a dedicated ministry has been established to tailor policies according to the specific needs of cooperatives. He added that tax and transparency reforms have also been implemented for this sector. As a result of these policy-level changes, the cooperative sector has gained renewed strength.

He emphasised that efforts are underway to expand marine product processing, with investments being made in modern processing plants, cold chain infrastructure, and smart harbours.

Underlining that the government is investing in modern technology to safeguard crops, the Prime Minister highlighted that farmers are being connected with food irradiation techniques, which have extended the shelf life of agricultural products and strengthened food security. He affirmed that units engaged in this work are receiving comprehensive support from the government.

The Prime Minister urged all industry stakeholders to invest in innovations related to biodegradable packaging. He affirmed that India has opened its doors to the world with an open mind and is fully receptive to investors across the food chain. He concluded by reiterating India’s readiness for collaborations and once again extended congratulations to all participants of the event.