India’s top 10 Agro-Based Industries driving the agricultural economy

India's agricultural landscape is diverse and depends on multiple industries to thrive. Agro-based industries, including textiles, dairy, and more, are playing a crucial role in empowering the agricultural economy. Let’s learn more about the top 10 agro-industries of India. 

What are Agro-based industries?

Agro-based industries are those that use different kinds of agricultural products, such as cotton, jute, oil, etc., as their primary inputs. They are categorized as

Category	Key Aspects	Example
Agro-product processing units	Refines the prime farming output	Rice Mills
Agro-produce manufacturing units	Deal in the manufacturing of novel items from different kinds of primary items	Sugar factories, bakeries, and textile mills
Agro-input manufacturing units	Involved in the manufacturing of industrial facilities for boosting productivity	Seed industries, fertilizer and pesticide units
Agro service center	Involves shops and service facilities offering non-industrial, agriculturally oriented services	Tractor and farm equipment service center

Top 10 Agro-Based Industries in India 

Here is a quick overview of the best agro-based industries in India. 

1. Textile Industry

The textile industry transforms natural fibers like cotton or silk into finished goods and garments. It is one of India’s oldest agro-based industries. 

• Accounts for roughly 2 to 2.3 percent of GDP.

• Provides more than 45 million jobs.

2. Food Processing Industry

India’s food processing sector processes multiple perishable agricultural products, such as grains, meat, fruits, and vegetables, into packaged goods. It reduces post-harvest waste and increases the shelf life of agricultural produce. 

• Provides jobs to 1.93 million people.

3. Dairy Industry

The dairy industry is one of the most crucial agro-based industries in India. This industry processes milk into a wide range of products, including yogurt, butter, and cheese. 

• India is the largest producer of milk. 

• Contributes to roughly 22 percent of global output. 

4. Agri-input Industry

This is a highly diverse sector, supplying everything from seeds to advanced machinery. It involves any goods or services that the farmer uses to increase the harvest quality. 

• Around 2.8 lakh agri-input dealers are in India. 

5. Vegetable Oil Industry

The vegetable oil industry uses crops and seeds as its raw material and transforms them into a variety of products, such as cooking oil and animal feed. 

• India contributes around 5-6% of the world’s total oilseed production. 

• An average of 13.5 MMT of seed oil is exported every year. 

6. Coffee Industry

The coffee industry is one of the top agro-industries, as it transforms the raw coffee beans into consumable goods. 

• India is the 7th largest coffee producer.

• Export in over 50 countries.

7. Jute Industry

As a leading agro-based industry in India, the jute industry produces about three-quarters of the world’s jute goods and promotes sustainable packaging practices. 

• India produces 70% of the world’s total bamboo production. 

• Provides employment to 0.37 million workers.

8. Tea Industry

The Indian tea industry is a key agro-based industry, as it marked the 255 million KG export in 2024, surpassing Sri Lanka, and is now the world’s second largest exporter. This agro-based industry 

• Provides direct employment to over 1.2 million people. 

• 80% of the total workforce is women. 

9. Bamboo Industry

As India has the highest area under bamboo farming and is the home of over 130 bamboo species, bamboo industry is one of the top agro-based industries here. 

• Has an estimated worth of Rs. 28,005 crores. 

10. Leather Goods Industry

The leather goods industry used the byproducts of the meat and dairy industries as its raw material. This makes it a key part of the entire agricultural economy.

• Accounts for 13% of the world’s total leather production

• Provide employment to 4.42 million people. 

Conclusion

India’s agro-based industries are rapidly moving from volume to value. These top 10 agro-based industries offer a stable income throughout the year and play a crucial role in keeping the farm-to-factory flywheel spinning at a faster pace for years.

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