Lucknow, Oct. 26 -- Uttar Pradesh is positioning itself as India's leading hub for food processing, the state government announced on Saturday, highlighting rapid growth in agro-industrial infrastructure and employment across the state. Citing a recent Global Trade Research report, officials stated that UP and Gujarat have emerged as India's "food processing powerhouses." While Gujarat hosts advanced dehydration plants in Mehsana and Banaskantha, UP is setting up state-of-the-art processing facilities in Agra and Farrukhabad. These projects aim to deliver double benefits for farmers through contract farming and a strengthened cold storage network. According to the government, more than 65,000 food processing units are currently operating across the state, providing employment to around 2.55 lakh youth. The state aims to establish 1,000 new units in every district, boosting value addition and job creation. So far, 15 agro and food processing parks have been developed in districts such as Bareilly, Barabanki, Varanasi and Gorakhpur. A major investment is also underway in Bareilly, where BL Agro is setting up an integrated agro-processing hub worth Rs.1,660 crore. The facility will include units for rice milling, oil extraction, and packaging, enhancing both production and export potential. The government further highlighted the upcoming South Asia Regional Centre of the International Potato Centre (CIP) in Agra, which will spearhead advanced research on potatoes and other tuber crops. With global demand for Indian processed foods on the rise, countries such as the U.S., Bangladesh, the UAE, and Vietnam are emerging as key importers, significantly expanding UP's market potential....