Lok Sabha Question No. 361 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-05
Subject: Processing of Perishable Foods
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: RABINDRA KUMAR JENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 361

ANSWERRED ON 5 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019

## PROCESSING OF PERISHABLE FOODS

## 361. SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  information  regarding  the  current  rate  of  processing  of perishable foods, and its share in the global food trade;
- (b) whether there has been any growth in this rate of processing in the last two years, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the steps taken by the Government in order to promote research and development of better technology in this field; and
- (d) the total expenditure incurred and the specific kinds of progress and modernisation achieved in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a) &  (b):  As  per  a  study,  commissioned  by  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  and undertaken by Institute of Economic Growth, the average extent of food processing in the country was 6.76% in 2010-11 including perishable foods. As per latest information, in 2017, India's share in world's exports of perishable processed food products was about 2.11% as per ITC Trade Map.

(c)  &  (d):        Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  has  been  implementing  scheme  for Research & Development in processed food sector in the country. Under the scheme, financial assistance as grant-in-aid is given to various Universities, IITs, Central/ State Government Industries, Government funded Organizations, R&D laboratories and CSIR recognized R&D units in private sector to promote and undertake demand driven R&D work in the field of processed food sector for product & process development, design and development of equipment, improved storage, shelf-life, packaging etc.

Government organizations/  Institutions/  Universities  are  eligible  for  100%  grant-in-aid  for  the cost  of  equipment,  consumables  and  expenditure  related  to  Junior  Research  Fellow/  Senior  Research Fellow/ Research Associate, while private Organizations/ Institutions/ Universities are eligible for 50% grant-in-aid for the equipment cost in general areas and 70% grant-in-aid in difficult areas for conducting such research activities.

Under the scheme so far 232 R&D projects have been sanctioned and Rs.34.38 crore has been released. Of the 232 sanctioned R&D projects, 164 projects have been completed.

The  two  food  technology  institutes  under  the  administrative  control  of  MoFPI  viz;  National Institute  of  Food  Technology  Entrepreneurship  and  Management  (NIFTEM),  Kundli,  Haryana  and Indian  Institute  of  Food  Processing  Technology  (IIFPT),  Thanjavur,  Tamil  Nadu  are  also  engaged  in R&D works in addition to their academic work. The IIFPT, in particular, has standardised 59 processes, 40 on-farm gadgets, developed 36 technologies, transferred 19 technologies to various stakeholders and patented 5 R&D outcomes. The IIFPT has developed 22 innovative healthy food products.

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