Lok Sabha Question No. 1661 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-01
Subject: Preservation and Processing Infrastructure
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Haribhai Patel, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske, Shri Praveen Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1661

ANSWERED ON 01 ST  AUGUST, 2024

## PRESERVATION AND PROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE

1661.     SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE: SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL: SHRI HARIBHAI PATEL: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

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

- (a) the steps taken by the Ministry during the last five years to encourage investments in both on-farm and off-farm preservation and processing infrastructure;
- (b) the specifics details of initiatives or assistance programmes aimed at   enhancing the capabilities of farmers to mitigate post-harvest losses;
- (c) the distribution and expenditure of funds allocated to States/Union Territories for the advancement of the food processing sector, with a breakdown of the schemes and projects endorsed in each state, for the financial years spanning 2018-19 to 2023-24; and
- (d) the  particulars  regarding  credit-linked  financial  aid  offered  to  entrepreneurs  for establishing food processing or preservation industries during the same timeframe, encompassing the number of recipients and the overall disbursement amount?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  has  been  implementing  a Central Sector umbrella scheme - Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2017-18.  The  PMKSY  is  one  of  the  important  interventions  by  the  Government  in  Food Processing sector and it has made substantial contribution in strengthening Food Preservation and  Processing  Infrastructure  of  the  country.  PMKSY  is  a  comprehensive  package  of component schemes, which aimed at creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet. Under the component schemes of PMKSY, viz.  Mega  Food  Parks  (discontinued  w.e.f.  01.04.2021),  Integrated  Cold  Chain  and  Value Addition Infrastructure, Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing Clusters, Creation/Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities, Creation of Backward and  Forward  Linkages  (discontinued  w.e.f.  01.04.2021)  and  Operation  Greens,    financial support  in  the  form  of  grants-in-aid/  subsidy  is  provided  for  setting  up  of  food  processing projects to encourage investments in both on-farm and off-farm preservation and processing infrastructure across the country. 1217 food processing projects have been approved with total project cost of ₹ 31308.24 crore including MoFPI grants-in-aid/ subsidy of ₹ 8698.18 crore thereby  attracting  private  investment  of  ₹  22610.06  crore  under  the  above  mentioned component schemes of PMKSY since their inception to 2024-25 (till 30.06.2024). Out of 1217,

651 projects have been completed thereby creating preservation and processing Infrastructure of 48.91 LMT/annum and 183.523 LMT/annum respectively.

(b) Under the Capacity Building component of Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, trainings for both farmers and micro level entrepreneurs are being  conducted  on the thematic area 'Value addition of the products to reduce the post-harvest losses.' Under PMFME scheme, 76 Common Incubation Centres have been approved across the country so that the farmers can utilize these facilities to process their produce by reducing the post-harvest losses.

PMFME  cell  of  National  Institute  of  Food  Technology,  Entrepreneurship  and Management,  Thanjavur  (an  Autonomous  academic  cum  research  Institution)  under  this Ministry is regularly hosting webinars to make farmers aware about the PMFME scheme and value addition of different kinds of agricultural products. 26 Webinars have been conducted till  date  for  different  crops  covering  the  various  processing,  value  addition,  storage  and handling aspects. About 37,330 beneficiaries across the country have been benefitted from these  webinars.  Food  Processing Business  Incubation Centre of  NIFTEM - Thanjavur also provides hands-on-training to FPOs on processing/ value addition and storage of agri produces regularly  and  this  centre  has  conducted  more  than  1500  trainings  thereby  covering  10,000 beneficiaries.

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  through  its  research  activities develops post-harvest machinery, storage structures and protocols, high value / value added products and conduct trainings to bring awareness among farmers and other stakeholders on need to reduce post-harvest losses of crops and commodities. ICAR is promoting modern storage systems through technology transfer, training and outreach activities such as mass contact during Melas, Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (MGMG)  visits, public lectures, dissemination  through  diverse  media  channels,  etc.  Besides,  the  ICAR  is  also  offering consultancy  services  to  Government  and  Non-Government  agencies  for  storage  related studies, development of modern storage protocols & upgrading the storage facilities. Further, post-harvest reduction technologies are demonstrated and some gadgets and tools, which aid in storage, handling and processing of farm produce are distributed to deserving beneficiaries belonging to weaker sections of society through Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan funding.

(c) No state-wise allocation of fund is made under component schemes of PMKSY for setting up of food processing projects. PMKSY is demand driven and it is not state, district, region or crop specific.

(d) Under component schemes of PMKSY namely,  viz. Mega Food Parks (discontinued w.e.f.  01.04.2021),  Integrated  Cold  Chain  and  Value  Addition  Infrastructure,  Creation  of Infrastructure  for  Agro  Processing  Clusters,  Creation/Expansion  of  Food  Processing  and Preservation Capacities, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages (discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021) and Operation Greens, credit linked financial aid in the form of grants-in-aid / subsidy  is  provided  for  establishing  food  processing  projects  leading  to  creation  of  food processing and preservation infrastructure facilities. During the period from 2018-19 to 202324, financial assistance of ₹ 2513.27 crore has been provided to 553 food processing projects approved under above mentioned component schemes of PMKSY.