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Review Article Volume 14 Issue 3
Tomato processing industries in India for nutritional security
A Nath, Ramandeep Kaur
Received: June 29, 2026 | Published: August 3, 2026
Citation: Nath A, Kaur R. Tomato processing industries in India for nutritional security. J Nutr Health Food Eng. 2026;14(3):126-136. DOI: 10.15406/jnhfe.2026.14.00394
Abstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most widely cultivated vegetable crops in India and serves as an important raw material for the food processing industry. Despite being among the world’s largest tomato producers, India processes only a small proportion of its total tomato production, with the majority consumed as fresh produce. The tomato processing sector primarily manufactures products such as tomato paste, puree, ketchup, sauces, juices, soups, dehydrated tomato powder, and canned tomatoes. Major processing facilities are concentrated in states including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, where production clusters and industrial infrastructure support commercial operations. The industry is characterized by the coexistence of large organized companies and numerous small- and medium-scale enterprises. However, inadequate availability of processing-specific cultivars, seasonal fluctuations in raw material supply, high post-harvest losses, fragmented supply chains, limited cold storage infrastructure, and inconsistent fruit quality continue to constrain industry growth. Government initiatives such as the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), and Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Food Processing are strengthening processing infrastructure, promoting value addition, and encouraging private investment. Simultaneously, increasing consumer demand for convenience foods, expansion of organized retail, technological advancements in processing, automation, and export opportunities are driving the sector’s modernization. Greater emphasis on contract farming, processing-oriented tomato hybrids, digital supply chain management, and sustainable processing technologies is expected to improve industry competitiveness. Strengthening farmer–processor linkages, expanding decentralized processing units, and enhancing quality standards will be crucial for reducing post-harvest losses and increasing value addition. Overall, the Indian tomato processing industry possesses substantial potential to evolve into a globally competitive sector, contributing significantly to food security, rural employment, agricultural diversification, and export earnings.
Keywords: solanum lycopersicum, tomato processing, value addition, post-harvest losses, food processing industry, value chain, government initiatives
©2026 Nath, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.