Lok Sabha Question No. 1462 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Establishment of Export Facilitation Hub in Amritsar
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Gurjeet Singh Aujla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1462

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 TH  JULY, 2025

## ESTABLISHMENT OF EXPORT FACILITATION HUB IN AMRITSAR

1462.  SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the Amritsar border region, with its fertile land and strategic location, holds immense potential for large-scale export of fruits and vegetables to neighbouring and international markets; (b) whether  the  Government  establish  an  advanced  agricultural  technology  and export  facilitation  hub  in  the  Amritsar  district,  equipped  with  state-of-the-art  research, irrigation systems, cold chain logistics, and value addition units; (c) the details of funds allocated to provide technical support for promoting high-yield, climate-resilient  crop  varieties,  precision  farming  techniques  and  modern  post-harvest management practices in the border area of Amritsar; and (d)

- the  details  of  steps  taken  to  enhance  agricultural  infrastructure  in  the  region  to support  export-oriented  farming  and  create  direct  access  for  farmers  to  international markets, thereby boosting rural income and national agri-exports?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): The Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative of Department of Commerce, conducted  in  coordination  with  state governments,  district-level  authorities,  export promotion councils, industry bodies, and institutional stakeholders etc. focuses on issues pertaining  to  enhancing  export  potential  of  identified  products  by  way  of  stakeholder consultation. Under the DEH initiative, agro commodities, rice, and floriculture products are among the key identified products for the Amritsar district.

(c): The  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  are  implementing  various schemes to strengthen the agricultural ecosystem in the country including Punjab and its border areas. The schemes wise budget allocation for the F.Y. 2025-26 is at annexure-I.

(d): Agriculture  Infrastructure  Fund  (AIF)  scheme  was  launched  in  2020  under  the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative with an objective to mobilize a medium or long-term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest  management infrastructure and community farming assets through incentives and financial support in order to improve agriculture infrastructure in the country. AIF promotes the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies, including state-of-the-art infrastructure for cold chain logistics  and  value  addition  units  such  as  sorting,  grading,  primary  processing,  and packaging facilities. Through its financial support mechanisms-like interest subvention and credit guarantee-the Scheme incentivizes investment in modern farm infrastructure across the value chain.

In  the district of Amritsar, projects supported under AIF include the setting up of cold storage units, warehouses, packaging units, and processing units that incorporate modern  post-harvest  management  practices.  Additionally,  investments  in  precision farming techniques are also eligible under AIF. These facilities help farmers reduce postharvest  losses,  improve  shelf  life,  and  fetch  better  market  prices.  The  district  has  also seen  interest  in  setting  up  agri-tech-enabled  units  to  support  efficient  and  sustainable farming practices.

Further, the Department of Commerce through APEDA  (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) provides financial assistance to  its  member  exporters  including  FPOs  (Farmer  Producer  Organisation)  and  FPCs (Farmer Producer Company) across the country including Punjab, for export promotion of scheduled agriculture products under Agriculture and Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 202526) in following three broad areas:

- a. Scheme  for  Infrastructure  Development-  Financial  assistance  for  setting  up  of packhouses  facilities  with  packing  /  grading  lines,  pre-cooling  unit  with  cold storage and refrigerated transportation etc, cable system for handling of crops like banana, pre-shipment treatment facilities such as irradiation, vapor heat treatment, hot water dip treatment and Common agri-infrastructure facilities, reefer vans  and  missing  gap  in  the  existing  infrastructure  of  individual  exporters.  The Centre  for  Perishable  Cargo  (CPC)  facility  at  Amritsar  Airport  for  handling perishable  agri-export  cargo  had  been  established  with  the  funding  support  of APEDA.
- b. Scheme for Quality Development -Financial assistance for purchase of laboratory testing equipment, installation of quality management systems, handheld devices for  capturing  farm  level  coordinates  for  traceability  and  testing  of  water,  soil, residues and pesticides etc.
- c. Scheme for Market Promotion- The assistance covers participation of exporters in international  trade  fairs,  organizing  Buyer  Seller  meets,  developing  packaging standards for new products, and upgrading the existing packaging standards. The exporters  of  Punjab  including  Amritsar  have  been  encouraged  and  enabled participation in the domestic/international trade fairs, Buyer Seller Meets, roadshows and other export promotional campaigns. Complete details of financial assistance  guidelines  are  available  at  APEDA  website  www.apeda.gov.in  under the 'Scheme' tab.

Under APEDA's market development initiatives, APEDA assisted the trial shipment of Rose scented fresh Litchi from Pathankot to Doha & Dubai via Amritsar by air in June 2025.  Similarly,  trial  consignments  for  export  of  fresh  litchi  to  London,  Kinnow  to Russia/Singapore sourced from farmers in Punjab, have also been facilitated in the past.

Export  oriented  capacity  building  programs  have  been  organised  in  Punjab  in collaboration  with  Department  of  Horticulture  and  Agriculture  across  several  districts including  Amritsar  to  create  awareness  about  agricultural  exports  and  nurture  the farmers, agri-    startups, women entrepreneurs for venturing into exports in order to get better realization of their produce.

## Annexure-I

Annexure referred in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1462 to be answered on 29.07.2025.

(Rs. in crore)

| S.no   | Name of Schemes/Description                                                                                            | BE-2025-26   |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|
| A      | Central Sector Schemes/projects                                                                                        |              |
| 1      | Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana                                                                                       | 12242.27     |
| 2      | Modified interest Subvention                                                                                           | 22600.00     |
| 3      | Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM- AASHA)                                                             | 6941.36      |
| 4      | Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)                                                                           | 63500.00     |
| 5      | Pradhan Mantri Kisan Mandhan yojana                                                                                    | 120.00       |
| 6      | Formation and promotion of Farmers producers Organization                                                              | 584.00       |
| 7      | Agriculture Infrastructure Fund                                                                                        | 900.00       |
| 8      | Namo Drone Didi                                                                                                        | 676.85       |
| 9      | Blended Capital Support to Finance Startups for Agriculture and rural Enterprise Relevant for Farm Produce Value Chain | 71.50        |
| 10     | National Bee Keeping Honey Mission (NBHM)                                                                              | 75.00        |
| 11     | Cotton Technology Mission                                                                                              | 500.00       |
| 12     | Mission for Pulses                                                                                                     | 1000.00      |
| 13     | Mission for Vegetables and Fruits                                                                                      | 500.00       |
| 14     | National Mission on Hybrid Seeds                                                                                       | 100.00       |
| 15     | Support for Makhana Board                                                                                              | 100.00       |
|        | Additional Transfer to agriculture infrastructure Fund and Development                                                 | -1000.00     |
|        | Total- Central Sector Schemes/Projects                                                                                 | 108910.98    |
| B      | Centrally Sponsored Schemes                                                                                            |              |
| 1      | Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)                                                                                   | 8500.00      |
| 2      | National Mission on natural Farming                                                                                    | 616.01       |
| 3      | Krishionnati Yojana                                                                                                    | 8000.00      |
|        | Total-Centrally Sponsored Schemes                                                                                      | 17116.01     |
|        | Total-Central Sector Schemes+ Centrally Sponsored Schemes                                                              | 126026.99    |
| C      | Establishment and other central expenditure of the Centre                                                              | 1263.17      |
|        | Total Budget Estimate of DA&FW                                                                                         | 127290.16    |

*****