PM Modi Showcases India’s Triple Strength of Diversity, Demand and Scale at World Food India 2025

New Delhi, September 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the World Food India 2025 gathering at Bharat Mandapam, highlighting India’s emergence as a global food processing hub and a key contributor to global food security. He underscored India’s “triple strength of diversity, demand and scale” that makes the country an attractive destination for investment in the food and agriculture sector.

The Prime Minister said global investors are looking at India with optimism, noting that the country produces every type of grain, fruit and vegetable, while its diverse culinary traditions reflect its rich culture. He pointed out that in the last decade, 25 crore people have risen out of poverty, forming a neo middle class that is shaping food trends and creating fresh demand. Modi also emphasized that India is now the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem, with many young entrepreneurs innovating in food and agriculture through AI, drones, e-commerce and smart supply chains.

Reaffirming India’s role in global food security, the Prime Minister highlighted that India is the largest producer of milk (25% of global supply), the leading producer of millets, and ranks second in rice and wheat production. He noted that whenever global supply chains face disruption, India has stood firm in meeting its responsibilities.

Modi stressed that small and marginal farmers—who make up more than 85% of India’s farming community—are emerging as a major market force, supported by initiatives such as 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), credit-linked subsidies, and micro food processing units run by self-help groups. He said over 1,100 FPOs have crossed annual turnovers of ₹1 crore, with products ranging from Kashmiri saffron and walnuts to Rajasthani millet cookies and Kerala banana chips now reaching online platforms.

The Prime Minister also praised India’s growing cooperative sector, especially in dairy, calling it a new strength for the rural economy. He noted that policy reforms and the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Cooperation are giving a boost to this movement. Similarly, fisheries have been strengthened with investments in deep-sea boats, cold chains and smart harbours, creating jobs for nearly three crore people.

Highlighting the government’s focus on food processing, mega food parks, PLI schemes, and storage infrastructure, Modi said India’s food processing capacity has grown twentyfold in the past decade, with exports of processed food more than doubling. He welcomed GST reforms that reduced tax rates on food products, dairy items, bio-pesticides and biodegradable packaging, saying they lower costs for farmers and ensure more nutrition at affordable prices for the poor and middle class.

Calling biodegradable packaging the “demand of the times,” Modi urged industry stakeholders to invest in innovations that balance freshness, quality, and environmental responsibility. He concluded by reaffirming India’s openness to global collaboration in the food and agriculture sector, calling this the “right time to invest and expand in India.”

The event was attended by Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, Union Ministers Chirag Paswan, Ravneet Singh and Prataprao Jadhav, among other dignitaries. World Food India 2025 will run from September 25–28, featuring exhibitions, CEO roundtables, technical sessions, and participation from 21 countries and 150 international delegates, with around 100,000 visitors expected.