Food & Agriculture is potentially the strongest opportunity for small & mid sized US businesses

Agriculture: 

Half of India's labor market is engaged in agriculture related segments and 54% of India land is categorized as arable. Agriculture constitutes 20% of India's GDP. However, productivity and yields are a significant problem caused by factors like lack of farmer education, training, regulations, inefficient food distribution and small farm sizes. 

All of this presents opportunities for US exporters, primarily in:

· Pulses and Lentils

· Dairy Products

· Tree Nuts

· Wine and Alcoholic Beverages

· Organic Products

· Poultry and Processed sea food

· Spices

· Specialty Grains 

Food and Grocery Retail: 

India’s food and grocery retail business is estimated at $570 billion. 

The sector is dominated by traditional grocery formats like neighborhood shops known as Kirana stores, which hold approximately 88 %of the total market share in sales. The market share held by modern trade formats such as supermarkets and hypermarkets, along with E-Commerce retailers, will continue to expand rapidly across India's towns and cities. 

All of this presents opportunities for US exporters, primarily in:

· Processed and Packaged Foods

· Health Foods

· Beverages & Energy Drinks

· Package Snacks

· Food Technology and Equipment

· E-commerce and Online Grocery

Casual Dining & Quick Service: 

India’s casual dining and quick service restaurant sector is also on the rise, with nearly 60 foreign restaurant brands across the country. Another emerging trend is the rise of “themed” dining restaurants serving cuisines with a fusion of national and international foods. The use of e-commerce for Buy, Move & Sale of food has rapidly grown. 

All of this presents opportunities for US exporters, primarily in:

· Franchising and Brand Partnerships

· Licensing and Branding

· Sustainable and Healthy Options

· Equipment and Technology

· Gourmet and Specialty Items

· Meat, Poultry and other ingredients

[ Credit: https://www.trade.gov/, other sources & India Inroads Research ]