Lok Sabha Question No. 1446 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-13
Subject: Cold Storage and Supply Chain Infrastructure under PMKSY
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Dr. Bhola Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1446

ANSWERED ON 13 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## COLD STORAGE AND SUPPLY CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER PMKSY

## 1446.   DR. BHOLA SINGH:

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

- (a) the  manner  in  which  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Sampada  Yojana  (PMKSY)  has  benefitted  the farmers in terms of higher price realization, farm gate profitability  and  reduced post-harvest losses;
- (b) the initiatives taken/being taken by the Government to promote sustainable practices in food processing,  particularly  in  waste  reduction,  energy  efficiency  and  environmental  impact mitigation;
- (c) whether any new schemes/financial incentives introduced/being introduced by the Government to improve cold storage and supply chain infrastructure under PMKSY; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to expand processed food exports and increase India's global competitiveness in the food processing industry?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

(a): The  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  has  been  implementing  Central  Sector Umbrella Scheme - PMKSY since 2016-17 to create post-harvest infrastructure and processing facilities to boost the overall development of the food processing sector including reduction in post-harvest losses. The component schemes under PMKSY provide credit linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of grants-in-aid to entrepreneurs for setting up of food processing/preservation infrastructure which, inter-alia, includes cold storages and refrigerated vehicles to minimize post-harvest losses.

(b): The  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  has  been  implementing  schemes  to  boost  food processing industries through infrastructure creation, grant of sales based incentives, capacity expansion, and other supporting measures. Under component schemes of PMKSY, as per the Scheme guidelines, consent to operate (CTO) issued by the concerned state Pollution board/Agency in respect of Water and Air, is mandatory for release of instalment of Grant-In-Aid/Subsidy to the approved projects. Further, Project Implementation Agency (PIA) has to comply with the requirements of Cold Chain infrastructure as per the directions of Ministry of Environment, Forest &  Climate change, Government of India with respect to use of Non-ODS (Non- Ozone depleting Substances) and low GWP (Low Global Warming Potential) refrigerants-based energy efficient cooling systems.

Under  PMKSY component schemes, assistance  can  also  be  availed  for  Renewable/alternate energy technologies (solar, bio-mass, wind, etc.) for the project (Max. eligible permissible cost is Rs. 35 Lakh per project). Eligible entities from across the country may apply and avail the benefits.

National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship & Management -Thanjavur under Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has made efforts to promote and develop sustainable packaging technology through development of biodegradable plastics, safe and environmental friendly packaging solutions from biopolymers such as poly lactic acid (PLA), starch, nano fibres etc (c): No such proposal is under consideration.

(d): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries through implementation of PMKSY, helps in creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet across the country. The scheme not only provide a boost to the growth of food processing sector in the country but also helps in, interalia, reducing wastage of agricultural produce, increasing the processing level and enhancing the export of the processed foods.

MoFPI is also implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme- PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME) for providing technical, financial and business support for setting up/upgradation of 2 lakh Micro Food Processing Enterprises. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been launched by MoFPI for the period 2021-22 to 2026-27 to create global food champions and improving the visibility of Indian food brands abroad.

Besides  above,  the  allied  Ministries/Departments  and  their  Agencies  such  as  Ministry  of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, APEDA, MPEDA, etc. also extend enabling support through their respective schemes like Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Agriculture Export Promotion Plan Scheme, National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility, etc.

Steps to help the agri-products and the processed foods export sector include inter- alia financial assistance to exporters by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Scheme of quality control, setting up of in house quality control laboratory and implementation  of  Hazard  Analysis  and  Critical  Control  Points  (HACCP)  in  processing  units, conducting awareness programme on quality assurance and quality management system and training programme on food safety norms, developing packaging for export of various food products and setting up of agri export zones in geographically contiguous areas in different states. In addition. Ministry of Food Processing Industries, under its Plan Scheme, also provides financial assistance to food processing industries for implementation of total quality management including ISO 9000, HACCP etc.  and to establish Quality Control Laboratories in the Country