Lok Sabha Question No. 2775 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-12
Subject: Funds allocated to Food Parks
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Hanuman Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 2775

ANSWERED ON 12 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## FUNDS ALLOCATED TO FOOD PARKS

## † 2775. SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:

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

- (a) the  details  of  funds  allocated  to  the  food  parks  under  the  mega  food  park  project  by  the  Union Government;
- (b) whether the mega food park projects have not achieved their target in various regions;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (d) whether it is a fact that the information about propagating the benefits of the said scheme has not reached amongst the masses and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a).  The details of funds allocated to the food parks under the Scheme for Mega Food Parks during the last four years and current year by the Union Government is at ANNEXURE.

(b), (c) & (d).  There was no region wise target under the Scheme for Mega Food Parks. Ministry has approved 41 Mega Food Park projects. Out of this, 24 Mega Food Parks are operational with a total project cost of ₹2,754.33 crore, approved grants in aid of ₹1,175.27 crore and ₹1,072.55 crore has been released to these projects generating 70,343 employments and benefitting 60,277 farmers.

Projects  under  Scheme  for  Mega  Food  Parks  were  approved  over  a  period  and  gestation  period  for completion of the projects is 30 months. Projects need various statutory clearances from State Governments and populating the Mega Food Parks with food processing units is time consuming. The scheme has been operational since 2008-09 and has requirement of at least 50 acres of land which often is a deterrent in hilly and difficult areas.

The steps taken by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries to ensure that the Mega Food Parks may become operational at the earliest includes regular progress review meetings being held with the promoters and concerned State Government representatives by Minister, FPI and Secretary, FPI for time bound completion of the projects,  modification  in  scheme  guidelines  from  time  to  time  to  remove  the  bottlenecks  impeding  the implementation of the projects, release of grant installment has been linked to proportionate physical progress on all project components including Primary Processing Centers (PPCs), Standard Design Factory (SDF) sheds and leasing of land to set up Food processing units and appropriate penalty is imposed for delays.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) scheme, various initiatives have been taken to promote and increase awareness & participation among beneficiaries through National & State level awareness campaigns such as Newspaper advertisement, Radio Jingles, Exhibitions & Expos, Buyer-Seller Meets, Ministry's website, etc. since the inception of the scheme.

After taking into account recommendations of many state Governments & Working Group constituted under 12th Finance Commission, a new scheme of Scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing Clusters (APC) was launched under PMKSY to develop common infrastructure in relatively smaller geographical area of 10 acres. Accordingly, Mega Food Park scheme has been discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021.

ANNEXURE ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2775 ANSWERED ON 12.12.2024 ON 'FUNDS ALLOCATED TO FOOD PARKS'

| Financial year            |   Budget Estimate (In ₹ crore) | Revise Budget Estimate (In ₹ crore)   |   Actual Expenditure (In ₹ crore) |
|---------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 2020-21                   |                          100   | 61.85                                 |                             61.86 |
| 2021-22                   |                           57.6 | 54.37                                 |                             52.59 |
| 2022-23                   |                           55.8 | 24.8                                  |                             22.14 |
| 2023-24                   |                           54.8 | 20.66                                 |                             20.64 |
| 2024-25 (Till 15.11.2024) |                           24.8 | Yet to be finalised                   |                              8.14 |

*****