Value Addition Through Food Processing Is India's Next Priority After Food Self-Reliance: Chirag Paswan

Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan on Tuesday said that after achieving self-reliance in food production, India's next priority should be creating greater value through food processing by strengthening infrastructure and expanding market opportunities for farmers.

Speaking at an event organised to mark National Mango Day and the 50th anniversary of Maaza, India's homegrown fruit-based beverage brand, Paswan said value addition in agriculture would be key to improving farmers' incomes and strengthening the country's food processing ecosystem.

"India has achieved self-reliance in food production, and our next priority is to create greater value through food processing by strengthening infrastructure and expanding market opportunities for our farmers. Our farmers are our 'annadatas', and every effort to strengthen the agricultural value chain is an investment in their future," the minister said.

He also praised initiatives that connect food processing companies with farmers. "It is encouraging to see homegrown beverage brands like Maaza celebrate this legacy of India's beloved mangoes 'aam' by bringing its authentic taste to millions of households while supporting farmers and contributing to local economies. The release of the Special Cover by the Department of Posts is a tribute to India's mango heritage and the farmers who sustain it," Paswan added.

The event, organised by Anandana - The Coca-Cola India Foundation, honoured mango farmers associated with Project Unnati, the foundation's flagship agricultural initiative. A commemorative Special Cover on India's mango heritage was also released in collaboration with the Department of Posts.

Highlighting the programme's impact, Devyani Rana, Vice President - Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia, said, "Behind every bottle of Maaza is the dedication and expertise of India's mango farming communities. Through Anandana's Project Unnati, we have been working alongside farmers and our implementation partners to strengthen productivity, improve fruit quality, and promote more resilient farming practices. As Maaza celebrates 50 years, it is equally a celebration of the farmers whose commitment has helped shape India's mango heritage. We remain committed to supporting their journey through sustainable agriculture and long-term partnerships."

P. Patchaimal, Founder and Chairman of CENDECT, the programme's implementation partner, said, "Celebrating Maaza's 50-year journey is a celebration of the farmers behind it. Project Unnati has demonstrated the value of combining scientific knowledge with sustained on-ground support. We look forward to continuing this work to enable more farmers to strengthen their orchards and build resilient livelihoods."

Sharing his experience, beneficiary farmer R. Rajendran from Tamil Nadu's Theni district said, "Project Unnati has given us the knowledge and confidence to adopt better farming practices. Today, we are seeing improved productivity and better-quality mangoes, helping us build a brighter future for our families."

Milan Dalal, Managing Director of Foods & Inns Ltd., said, "Building a resilient mango value chain begins with strong partnerships at the farm level. Initiatives like Project Unnati are helping farmers adopt scientific cultivation practices that improve fruit quality, productivity and consistency, creating long-term value for farming communities while strengthening India's fruit processing ecosystem. As a long-standing sourcing partner, we believe such collaborative efforts are essential to supporting sustainable growth across the value chain."

According to the organisers, Project Unnati promotes scientific mango cultivation practices such as Ultra High-Density Plantation (UHDP), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), drip irrigation and scientific orchard management. The initiative has helped participating farmers nearly double per-acre mango yields while reducing the time required for orchards to reach commercial production, thereby strengthening India's mango value chain and food processing industry.