Agro-processing Industries: Size, Strengths, Weaknesses, Importance and Changing Opportunities for Their Growth

Abstract

This note first defines agro-processing industries and discuses their size in terms of value added and employment contributions. This is followed by the identification of their strengths and weaknesses, besides discussing (a) their relative importance in the process of economic development, (b) changing profile of demand for their products, (c) alternatives for sourcing raw materials, (d) opportunities for primary, secondary, and tertiary processing of agricultural raw materials and foreign exchange earning considering the context of value chain that facilitates efficiency, better services, and response in general both from farmer and consumers. Finally, it raises some questions for discussion.