Lok Sabha Question No. 5475 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-03
Subject: Challenges in Strengthening the Food Processing Sector in Hingoli
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Aashtikar Patil Nagesh Bapurao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5475

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 RD  APRIL, 2025

## CHALLENGES IN STRENGTHENING THE FOOD PROCESSING SECTOR IN HINGOLI

## 5475.   SHRI AASHTIKAR PATIL NAGESH BAPURAO:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  or  survey  to  assess  the  gaps  and challenges in the food processing sector in Hingoli and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to set up food parks, processing hubs and value-addition centres in Hingoli to boost local food processing industries;
- (c) whether there is any ongoing or proposed cold storage and warehouse projects in Hingoli to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure better storage for perishable agricultural produce, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of financial assistance and subsidy programmes available for new entrepreneurs and  small  -scale  food  processing  industries  in  Hingoli  and  the  manner  in  which  the Government is ensuring awareness about these schemes; and
- (e) the status of export promotion initiatives for processed food products from Hingoli along with the efforts made by the Government to connect local businesses with national and international markets?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has not conducted any study to assess the gaps and challenges in the food processing sector in the country including Hingoli.

(b) to (d): For overall development of food processing sector, MoFPI implements Central Sector umbrella scheme - Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2016-17 across the country including the Hingoli district of Maharashtra. The components scheme under PMKSY are (i) Mega Food Parks (MFP scheme- discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021), (ii) Integrated Cold Chain & Value  Addition  Infrastructure  (Cold  Chain  scheme),  (iii)  Creation  of  Infrastructure  for  Agro Processing Clusters (APC scheme), (iv) Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC scheme), (v) Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages (CBFL schemediscontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021) and (vi) Operation Greens (OG scheme). The schemes are demand driven and proposals are invited by floating Expression of Interest from time to time based on availability of funds. Under these component schemes, MoFPI provides financial support in the form of grants-in-aid/ subsidy for setting up of food processing projects thereby creating both processing  and  preservation  infrastructure  facilities  including  cold  chain  infrastructure.  The facilities created under the component schemes help in preservation & processing of raw farm produce and transport of raw & finished products thereby reducing post-harvest losses of farm produce.  As  on  28 th February,  2025,  one  project  under  CEFPPC  scheme  in  Hingoli  is  under implementation with project cost of Rs.19.96 crore.

MoFPI  provides  financial,  technical  and  business  support  for  setting  up/  upgradation  of micro food processing enterprises in the country under "Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME)  Scheme.  The  support is provided for potential entrepreneurs for all the products including One District One Product (ODOP) products under PMFME Scheme across the country including Hingoli district. For the district of Hingoli, 184 loans have been sanctioned with approved subsidy of Rs. 12.05 crore under the scheme. MoFPI is taking various initiatives to promote and increase awareness & participation among beneficiaries through National & State level awareness campaigns such as Newspaper advertisement, Radio Jingles,  Exhibitions  &  Expos,  Millet  Fairs,  Buyer-Seller  Meets  etc.  since  the  inception  of  the scheme.

(e): Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industries (PLISFPI) of MoFPI is intended, inter alia, to support creation of global food manufacturing champions and support Indian brands of food products in international market. Also, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) provides incentives to processed food exporters under its  different  schemes  for  Infrastructure,  Quality,  Market  Development  etc.  These  schemes  are implemented across the country, including Hingoli.

Apart  from  this,  with  the  objective  to  boost  investments  and  sourcing  of  Indian  food products, MoFPI organized 3rd edition of a Mega Event, called 'World Food India' during 19th to  22nd September 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi to showcase domestic Industry and provide it with collaborative opportunities with international stakeholders. The event invited global food processing companies, innovators, supply chain stakeholders, equipment manufacturers etc. on a collaborative platform and to provide foreign companies with tie-up/ business opportunities with its Indian counterparts

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