J&K Has One of India’s Lowest Women’s Employment in Food Processing Sector – Only 352 Women in 2024

Ziraat Times Team Report

Srinagar, Dec 12: Jammu & Kashmir remains among the lowest contributors to women’s employment in India’s food processing sector, according to new government data released on Friday, even as national capacity, exports and jobs continue to expand under key schemes of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI). The latest Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) shows that J&K employed only 352 women in 2023–24—far below most major states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, which employ tens of thousands of women in the sector.

The ministry noted that the food processing industry is one of India’s largest organised-sector employers, accounting for 12.91% of total registered manufacturing jobs, 20.4% of agri-food exports in 2024–25 and 7.93% of manufacturing GVA in 2023–24. Gross Value Added from the sector has risen from ₹1.34 lakh crore in 2014–15 to ₹2.24 lakh crore in 2023–24.

Schemes Driving Growth, But Regional Imbalances Persist

Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh told the Rajya Sabha that several central schemes—including the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industries (PLISFPI) and the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME)—are driving nationwide expansion and generating off-farm employment.

As of October 31, 2025:

• PMKSY projects have created 4.53 lakh jobs

• PMFME has generated 4.88 lakh jobs

• PLISFPI has produced 3.39 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities

However, ASI figures underline sharp regional disparities in women’s participation. Tamil Nadu (48,941), Kerala (38,727), Karnataka (21,213) and Andhra Pradesh (50,454) remain the top performers, while J&K’s 352 and Ladakh’s 9 women employees place them among the lowest in the country.

J&K and Ladakh Lag Behind

Despite modest year-on-year improvement, J&K’s participation remains minimal compared with most states. The Union Territory’s numbers have fluctuated over three years—302 in 2021–22, 287 in 2022–23, and 352 in 2023–24. Ladakh, meanwhile, recorded 0, 15 and 9 women employees in the same period.

The ministry said these trends point to the need for targeted interventions, even as national schemes continue to expand processing capacity and employment across India’s agri-food value chain.