Himachal Pradesh is a predominantly agrarian state and a leading producer of fruits and off-season vegetables.

The key production statistics for the state (the year 2015-16) are presented below:

Production Cluster of the State: -

The State has 12 cold chain units under MoFPI of which 8 are completed. Apart from these, there are 12 clusters and markets in nearby areas, 19 registered mandis, and about 7 agri-marketing yards.

The state is the leading fruit producer in the country and is the 2^nd largest producer of Apple along with stone fruit such as plum, peach, etc., and citrus fruits in India. The state is known for producing off-season vegetables i.e., Tomato, Capsicum, Cabbage, Cucumber, and mushroom. With abundant raw material and better connectivity.

Some of the major processing clusters in the state include:

• Agriculture is a key livelihood for the people of Himachal Pradesh and holds a significant share in the state’s economy. Major food crops in the state are rice, maize, wheat, barley, jowar, pulses, bajra, and potato. The four agro-climatic conditions in the state support cultivation of multiple crops, vegetables, and fruits around the year. The state government is focusing on increasing productivity levels besides diversification towards high-value crops
• With suitable agro-climatic conditions, Himachal   Pradesh has realized the importance of commercial crops, including off-season vegetables, potatoes, and ginger. The state is one of the largest producers of off-season vegetables and exotic fruits and the second-largest producer of apples and almonds in the country
• The food processing industry primarily focuses on the areas of traditional processing of agricultural and horticultural raw materials
• Agri-procurement has lately been an investment area for corporate entities
• Cremica Group is a prominent player in the food retail and food services industries in India. The company’s business activities include Cremica Frozen Foods, EBI Foods, Mrs. Bector’s Desserts, and Cremica Agro India. The company is commissioning a plant at Tahliwal Industrial Area, Una, for manufacturing biscuits and Indian snack foods. It is a 100% automated facility, with an annual manufacturing capacity of 150,000 MT
• Adani Agrifresh, a 100% subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, has set up three controlled-atmosphere storage units at Rampur, Sainj, and Rohru in Himachal Pradesh, with an investment of US$ 40 million and a combined capacity of 18,000 metric tonnes of apples per year. The subsidiary is involved in the procurement, storage, and transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables. The company directly buys fruits from about 4,000 farmers
• Nestlé has been operating in India for almost a century, with seven production facilities across the country. The company produces chocolates and confectionaries, prepared dishes and cooking aids, beverages, and milk products and nutrition. The company has a factory in Tahliwal, Una, and Himachal Pradesh