Lok Sabha Question No. 3844 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-21
Subject: Crisis Faced by Seafood Processing Industry
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 3844

ANSWERED ON 21 ST  DECEMBER, 2021

## CRISIS FACED BY SEAFOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY

## 3844. ADV. A. M. ARIFF:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the crisis faced by the seafood processing industries in the country, especially in the State of Kerala as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, if so, the action taken thereon;
- (b) whether the Government had made any attempts to understand the living conditions of people employed in the Seafood processing industry in the country especially in the State of Kerala including the number of people depending on the said industry for their livelihood, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, whether the Government intends to institute a study for the same;
- (d) whether  the  Government  will  consider  providing  special  assistance  to  the  seafood processing industry to tide over the present crisis caused by COVID-19; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (c): There has been decline in export of marine products from the country, including from the State of Kerala, during last three years.  However, as per export data of current year up to November 2021, the exports have increased compared to the same period last year. The reasons for the decline is thus not attributable exclusively to COVID-19 pandemic situation.

However, government is aware that alike other sectors, food processing sector including seafood processing sector, also went through several hitches during the lockdown because of issues such as reduction in processing capacity due to plant shutdowns, disruption in logistics and movement of workers, labor availability, drop in demand, etc.

In order to facilitate food processing units to resume their operations, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) had established a dedicated Grievance Cell and a Task Force during outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic to liaison with State authorities. A total of 649 industry  related  issues  were  resolved  by  this  Cell.    In  addition,  advisory  was  issued  to  all States/UTs about exemptions given to food processing industries from lockdown restrictions, and request  was  also  made  to  allow  functioning  of  all  food  business  operations,  subject  to adherence of prescribed COVID norms.

(d)  &  (e):  As  a  part  of  the  Atmanirbhar  Bharat  initiatives,  the  Government  has  launched following scheme which has components for supporting fishery sector and food processing sector in the country, including in the State of Kerala:

- (i) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana ( PMMSY ) by the Department of Fisheries with  an  estimated  investment  of  Rs.20,050  crores  for  implementation  in  all  the States/Union Territories including Kerala over a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.
- (ii) Production  Linked  Incentive  scheme  ( PLIS )  by  the  MoFPI  with  an  outlay  of Rs.10,900 crores to support creation of global food manufacturing champions and support Indian Brands of food products in international market.
- (iii) PM Formalisation  of  Micro  Food  Processing  Enterprises  Scheme  (PMFME)  for providing financial, technical and business support for setting up/upgradation of 2 lakh micro food processing enterprises across the country during five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 based on One District One Product (ODOP) approach with an outlay of Rs.10,000 crore.

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