Key facts
- South Asia can generate millions of jobs by transforming its agriculture sector.
- Agriculture employs 43% of the South Asian workforce.
- Over 30% of food produced in South Asia is lost or wasted annually.
- Expanding food processing, storage, logistics, and marketing are key to job creation.
- India's processed food exports have more than doubled in the past decade.
- The World Bank Group's AgriConnect initiative aims to connect 300 million farmers to markets by 2030.
The World Bank Group has identified significant potential for job creation in South Asia's agriculture sector, which currently employs 43 percent of the region's workforce. A statement from India's Ministry of Food Processing Industries highlighted that transforming food systems beyond the farm can unlock opportunities for employment, investment, economic growth, and poverty reduction.
Despite its large workforce contribution, agriculture accounts for only 16 percent of the region's GDP, valued at over $700 billion. A critical issue identified is the substantial food loss and waste, with over 30 percent of food produced annually going to waste, enough to feed nearly 300 million people. The World Bank Group emphasized that expanding food processing, storage, logistics, marketing, and value addition are key to creating millions of productive jobs, reducing food losses, and increasing farmers' incomes.
India has seen substantial growth in food grain production and a doubling of processed food exports over the past decade, now contributing significantly to its manufacturing value added and exports. However, a large proportion of agricultural produce remains unprocessed. Strengthening infrastructure such as cold chains, storage facilities, logistics networks, and market linkages is crucial for increasing value creation.
The World Bank Group is supporting these efforts through initiatives like AgriConnect, a global platform designed to connect 300 million farmers to markets by 2030 through investments in infrastructure, policy reforms, and private capital mobilization. This initiative is already active in countries including India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.