Lok Sabha Question No. 3279 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-01
Subject: R&D Projects in Food Processing
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: BOORA NARSAIAH GOUD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3279

ANSWERED ON 1 ST  JANUARY, 2019

## R&D PROJECTS IN FOOD PROCESSING

## 3279.  DR. BOORA NARSAIAH GOUD :

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

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken R&D Projects for development of food processing industries in the country;
- (b) If so, the details thereof;
- (c) the funds allocated for the purpose during the 12 th Five year plan; and
- (d) the number of on-going Food Processing Projects in the country and the action taken by the Government for timely completion of these projects?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b) : Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  has  been  implementing  scheme  for  Research  & Development  in  processed  food  sector  the  country.  Under  the  scheme,  financial  assistance  as  grant-  in-aid  is given to various Universities, IITs,  Central/ State Government Institutions, 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. Under the scheme so far 232 R&D projects have been sanctioned, out of this 164 projects have been completed.

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.

(c): During 12th Plan Period, the scheme was implemented through Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)  of  Department  of  Science  and  Technology.  From  1st  April,  2017  onwards,  the  scheme  is  being implemented directly by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. The funds allocated under the R&D scheme during the Twelfth Five Year Plan are as under:-

|   S. No. | Year    |   Funds allocated (Rs. in Crores) |
|----------|---------|-----------------------------------|
|        1 | 2012-13 |                             10.5  |
|        2 | 2013-14 |                              9.55 |
|        3 | 2014-15 |                              7.6  |
|        4 | 2015-16 |                              6.67 |
|        5 | 2016-17 |                              5.8  |

(d): Under the scheme, there are 68 number of ongoing R&D projects in Private and Public sector. For timely completion of these projects, periodic review of these projects is carried out by the Ministry. The Ministry has been  regularly  following  up  the  matter  with  the  concerned  Principal  Investigators/Institutes/Organizations  for submission of Project progress or Final Project Completion Report (FPCR).