Lok Sabha Question No. 436 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-20
Subject: Horticulture Production Hub
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 436

ANSWERED ON 20 TH  JULY, 2021

## HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION HUB

## 436. SHRI RAJU BISTA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the North Bengal region is a horticulture production hub with huge potential for pineapples, oranges, mangoes, bananas, litchi, jackfruit, lime, etc., which are in high demand across the world;
- (b) whether  some  fruit  processing  facilities  are  already  in  existence  in  the  North  Bengal districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong; and
- (c) whether the Government is considering to establish a food processing plant in the North Bengal  region  given  the  high  quality  of  fruit  production  and  suitable  agro-climatic conditions, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a). Yes Sir, North Bengal region is a potential Horticulture Production Hub for various fruit crops namely, pineapple, orange, mango, banana, litchi, jackfruit, lime etc. The major growing areas of these fruit crops are:
- (b)  &  (c). Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  does  not  set  up  food  processing infrastructure on its own. However, it provides credit linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of Grants-in-Aid to entrepreneurs for setting up of food processing industries, including for processing of fruits, under component schemes of Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY). PMKSY is demand driven and financial assistance is provided to the eligible applicants selected on the basis of Expression of Interest (EoI) issued from time to time. MoFPI has approved two projects in Darjeeling District of West Bengal for assistance under Creation/Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities Scheme of PMKSY. Related details are placed at Annexure .

| Fruit Crop   | Major Growing Areas                                 |
|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Pineapple    | Jalpaiguri, Cooch behar, Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur |
| Orange       | Darjeeling and Kalimpong                            |
| Mango        | Malda                                               |
| Banana       | Jalpaiguri, Cooch behar, Dinajpur                   |
| Litchi       | Malda and parts of Dinajpur                         |
| Jackfruit    | Jalpaiguri, Cooch behar, Plain area of Darjeeling   |
| Lime / lemon | All the district of North Bengal                    |

*****

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  AND  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 436 FOR ANSWER ON 20 TH JULY, 2021 REGARDING 'HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION HUB'.

## Details of projects approved under Creation/Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities Scheme:

(Rs. In crore)

|   Sl. No | Name of the Proje ct        | District   | Sector            | Date of Approval   |   Project Cost |   Approved Grant Released Amount Status |   Approved Grant Released Amount Status | Approved Grant Released Amount Status   |
|----------|-----------------------------|------------|-------------------|--------------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|        1 | M/s Mahananda Food Pvt. Ltd | Darjeeling | F&V processing    | 07.12.2018         |          22.94 |                                    4.94 |                                    4.77 | Completed                               |
|        2 | M/s Aarson Lozenges Factory | Darjeeling | Consumer Products | 29.05.2019         |           4.75 |                                    1.31 |                                    0.66 | Under Implementation                    |