Lok Sabha Question No. 386 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-27
Subject: ODOP for Nalgonda in Telangana
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Kunduru Raghuveer

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION No. *386 ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH 2025

## ODOP FOR NALGONDA IN TELANGANA

## *386.   SHRI KUNDURU RAGHUVEER:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that sweet oranges identified as the One District One Product (ODOP) for Nalgonda district in Telangana face commercial limitations due to bitterness-causing compounds like limonin and naringin and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has any plans to collaborate with Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru and Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT), Thanjavur to  develop  technology  for  reducing  limonin  content  to  make  sweet orange juice commercially viable;
- (c) if so, the timeline for developing and making such technology accessible to the farmers to enhance the market demand;
- (d) whether the Government is contemplating to revise Nalgonda's ODOP and replace sweet oranges with crops like cotton or paddy which are better suited to the region's climate and market conditions and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the criteria for selecting ODOPs and whether any mechanism exists to revise them based on farmers' feedback, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure that farmers benefit from ODOP initiatives or receive support for alternative crops if a revision is made?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI CHIRAG PASWAN)

- (a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *386 ANSWERED ON 27.03.2025 REGARDING 'ODOP FOR NALGONDA IN TELANGANA'

Sweet oranges have been identified as the One District One Product (ODOP) for Nalgonda District in Telangana based on the recommendations of the State Government of Telangana.  Sweet orange was chosen as the ODOP (One District One Product) for Nalgonda District by the State Government due to its suitability for cultivation, high productivity and predominance of crop in the region. Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been extending financial assistance to undertake demand driven Research and Development (R&D) work for the benefit food processing industry in terms of product and process development, efficient technologies, improved packaging, value addition etc. with commercial value along with standardization of various factors.

However,  MoFPI  has  not  received  R&D  proposal  neither  from  State  Government  of Telangana  nor  from  any  of  the  Research  Institutions  including  Central  Food  Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru and Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (now renamed  as  NIFTEM),  Thanjavur  for  supporting  development  of  technology  for  reducing bitterness causing compounds to make sweet orange juice commercially viable.

In order to change the ODOP for Nalgonda, the State Government has to submit a proposal to  MoFPI.  However,  no  such  proposal  has  been  received  from  the  State  Government  of Telangana.

The  organizations  such  as  Central  &  State  PSUs/  Joint  Ventures/  Farmer  Producers Organization (FPOs)/ NGOs/ Cooperatives/ SHG's/ Pvt. Ltd. Companies/ Individuals proprietorship firms etc. including individual farmers are eligible for availing financial support / incentive under the PMFME scheme subject to compliance of the terms and conditions prescribed in the scheme guidelines. The details of support available under PMFME Scheme for both ODOP and non-ODOP are at Annexure .

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *386  ANSWERED  ON  27.03.2025  REGARDING  'ODOP  FOR NALGONDA IN TELANGANA'

The following support is  provided  under  PMFME Scheme in the  country  for  all  the  products including ODOP products: (i). Support to Individual / Group Category Micro Enterprises: Credit-linked capital subsidy @35% of the eligible project cost, maximum ceiling Rs.10 lakh per unit; (ii). Support to SHGs for seed capital: Seed capital @ Rs. 40,000/- per member of SHG engaged  in  food  processing  for  working  capital  and  purchase  of  small  tools  subject  to maximum of Rs. 4 lakhs per SHG Federation. (iii). Support for Common Infrastructure: Credit linked capital subsidy @35% subject to maximum of Rs. 3 crores to support FPOs, SHGs, Cooperatives and any Government agency for setting up of common infrastructure. (iv). Branding  and  Marketing  Support: Grant  upto  50%  for  Branding  and  Marketing  to groups of FPOs/ SHGs/ Cooperatives or an SPV of micro food processing enterprises. The scheme envisages training for Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) to meet the requirement of food processing industry and product specific

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- (v). Capacity Building: skilling.