Lok Sabha Question No. 3102 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-18
Subject: Soyabean Agro Processing Cluster in Nanded
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3102 ANSWERED ON 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## SOYABEAN AGRO PROCESSING CLUSTER IN NANDED

## 3102.  SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO:

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

- (a) the  total  number  of  clusters  approved  and  operationalised  under  the  Agro  Processing Cluster Scheme in the State of Maharashtra;
- (b) the manner in which the said scheme would be helpful in increasing the income of farmers;
- (c) whether the Nanded district of Maharashtra  is rich in potential soyabean production in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  establish  a  soyabean  Agro  Processing  Cluster  in Nanded, Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the time by which the said cluster is likely to be established and if not, the reasons thereof; and
- (f) the  other  steps  taken  or  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  benefit  of  farmers  of Nanded, Maharashtra to provide appropriate market for their produce?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing a Scheme for Creation  of  Infrastructure  for  Agro  Processing  Clusters  (APC),  a  component  scheme  of  the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) for development of modern infrastructure to encourage entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on cluster approach in the country since  2017.  As  on  date,  Ministry  has  approved  5  agro  processing  clusters  in  the  State  of Maharashtra under the scheme. All 5 APCs are operationalised.

(b): The  scheme  aims  at  development  of  modern  infrastructure  and  common  facilities  to encourage group of entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on cluster approach by linking groups of producers/ farmers to the processors and markets through well-equipped supply chain with modern infrastructure. With Creation of Food Processing Infrastructure, the demand for farm produce which is raw material for food processing industries increases leading to better prices to farmers and increasing farm gate profitability.

(c): Yes, Nanded district of Maharashtra is rich in soyabean production. The area, production and yield of soybean in Nanded District of Maharashtra during the year 2025-26 are as under:

| Year     |   Area (lakh ha) |   Production (lakh tonnes) |   Yield (kg/ha) |
|----------|------------------|----------------------------|-----------------|
| 2025-26* |             4.56 |                       6.15 |            1350 |

*  As  per  1 st Advance Estimates of area, production, productivity-State Government of Maharashtra

- (d) & (e): The APC scheme is not state/district/crop specific. Ministry does not set up any Agro Processing Clusters on its own. Scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing Clusters (APC) is a demand driven scheme under which applications are invited online from the potential investors / entrepreneurs against Expression of Interest (Eol) issued by the Ministry from time to time.
- (f): The Government of India has approved the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds (NMEO-OS) to boost the domestic oilseeds production and to strive towards self-reliance in edible oils. The mission aims to enhance the production of primary oilseed crops, including soybean and to  increase  collection,  extraction,  and  recovery  efficiency  from  secondary  sources  such  as cottonseed, rice bran, corn oil, and tree-borne oils.

The  mission  is  being  implemented  across  29  States/UTs,  including  Maharashtra  and follows a cluster-based approach with market linkages. The Value Chain Clusters are managed by Value Chain Partners such as Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, and other implementing agencies. Under these clusters, farmers are provided free high-quality seeds for an area of up to one hectare per farmer, along with training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). Moreover, procurement from farmers is also ensured at Minimum Support Price (MSP) through Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA).

In addition, the mission also supports the establishment and upgradation of post-harvest infrastructure,  including  oil  mills,  to  improve  oil  recovery  from  both  primary  and  secondary sources.  This  support  aims  to  strengthen  post-harvest  infrastructure,  promote  value  addition, enhance market access, and ensure remunerative prices for farmers' oilseed produce.

Further, Government also fixes (MSP) for oilseeds crops including soybean every year in line  with  the  principle  of  providing  1.5  times  return  over  all  India  weighted  average  cost  of production, details of MSP fixed for Soybean Yellow during 2022-23 to 2025-26 are as under:

| Year    |   MSP (Rs. per quintal) |
|---------|-------------------------|
| 2022-23 |                    4300 |
| 2023-24 |                    4600 |
| 2024-25 |                    4892 |
| 2025-26 |                    5328 |

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