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At 179.9 million hectares, India holds the second largest agricultural land in the world. A majority of the Indian population relies on agriculture for employment and livelihood. Steady investments in technology development, irrigation infrastructure, emphasis on modern agricultural practices and provision of agricultural credit and subsidies are the major factors contributing to agriculture growth.

The country has today emerged as a major player in the global agriculture market. Agriculture accounts for 14 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and about 11 per cent of India’s total exports; it is also an essential link in the supply chain of the manufacturing sector and at the same time constitutes a big market for industrial products. Currently, India is the world’s largest rice exporter and second in terms of wheat exports. Horticulture exports have also seen good growth. India’s agro exports during 2013–14 touched US$ 45 billion as against US$ 25 billion in 2011–12.

Apart from the huge value addition and employment involved in these activities, packaging has served the Indian economy by helping preservation of the quality and lengthening the shelf life of innumerable products - ranging from milk and biscuits, to drugs and medicines, processed and semi-processed foods, fruits and vegetables, edible oils, electronic goods etc., besides domestic appliances and industrial machinery and other hardware needing transportation. With water becoming a consumer product, polymer material-based bottles are becoming a universal presence.

Heightened competition in all product sectors within the country as also the increasing need to look for export markets have contributed to the rising demand for appropriate, and at the same time cost-effective, packaging material and technologies.

The packaging industry’s growth has led to greater specialization and sophistication from the point of

India currently represents just U.S. $6 billion of the $550 billion global pharmaceutical industry but its share is increasing at 10 percent a year, compared to 7 percent annual growth for the world market overall. Also, while the Indian sector represents just 8 percent of the global industry total by volume, putting it in fourth place worldwide, it accounts for 13 percent by value and its drug exports have been growing 30 percent annually.

The “organized” sector of India’s pharmaceutical industry consists of 250 to 300 companies, which account for 70 percent of products on the market, with the top 10 firms representing 30 percent. However, the total sector is estimated at nearly 20,000 businesses, some of which are extremely small. Approximately 75 percent of India’s demand for medicines is met by local manufacturing.

India is the one of the world’s largest producers of textiles and garments. Abundant availability of raw materials such as cotton, wool, silk and jute as well as skilled workforce have made the country a sourcing hub. It is the world’s second largest producer of textiles and garments. The Indian textiles industry accounts for about 24 per cent of the world’s spindle capacity and 8 per cent of global rotor capacity. The potential size of the Indian textiles and apparel industry is expected to reach US$ 223 billion by 2021, according to a report by Technopak Advisors.

The textiles industry has made a major contribution to the national economy in terms of direct and indirect employment generation and net foreign exchange earnings. The sector contributes about 14 per cent to industrial production, 4 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP), and 27 per cent to the country’s foreign exchange inflows. It provides direct employment to over 45 million people. The textiles sector is the second largest provider of employment after agriculture. Thus, the growth and all round development of this industry has a direct bearing on the improvement of the India’s economy.

Indian Spices are known the world-over for their taste and strong aromatic flavor. India, the ‘home of spices’ produces about 5 million metric tons of spices every year. Out of the listed 86 Spices in the world, India grows 52 of them. India consumes 90% of its spice production and the balance is exported. Kerala is the richest Indian State producing a number of spices. In almost all the 28 States and 7 Union Territories, at least one Spice is grown in profusion.

The health benefits of spices are legendary. Spices and herbs are highly valued for their prolific medicinal properties since ancient times. They are considered rich sources of Calcium, Iron, Vitamin B, C, Carotene and other antioxidants and can also moderate dietary levels of fat, sugar and sodium when consumed in small proportions.

Several metabolic diseases and ageing related degenerative problems closely associated with oxidative processes in the body can be combated by spices rich in anti-oxidants.

The Dry Fruit Market in India is showing remarkable growth owing to the growing gift culture during various festivals and occasions along with the rising health awareness among the consumers. Consumers are becoming aware about the health benefits associated with dry fruit consumption and this is leading to its increased consumption. Moreover, the user industries of dry fruits are also growing steadily leading to its increased demand from these sectors.

This is further aided with the penetration and availability of dry fruits in different packaging formats at various retail points along with the increased disposable income amongst the consumers. All these factors are indicating towards the bright future of the Indian dry fruit industry in the coming years.

Major Production (State Wise): Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu