New Delhi, Feb. 25 -- The Centre is preparing a fresh push to expand food processing capacity, aiming to raise the share of processed food in the country's agricultural output from about 12% to 25% over the next five years as it tries to curb massive post-harvest losses estimated at Rs.1.53 trillion annually.

The push was outlined during a meeting chaired by the secretary of the ministry of food processing industries (MoFPI), according to a government statement on Tuesday, and reflects a broader attempt to modernize the farm economy by shifting value creation away from raw produce toward processed and packaged foods. Policymakers say the approach could stabilize farmer incomes, reduce wastage and strengthen exports through investments in...