Lok Sabha Question No. 5501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-03
Subject: Agro Food Processing Cluster Scheme in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Selvam G, Shri C N Annadurai, Shri Navaskani K

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5501

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 RD  APRIL, 2025

## AGRO FOOD PROCESSING CLUSTER SCHEME IN TAMIL NADU

## 5501.   SHRI SELVAM G: SHRI C N ANNADURAI: SHRI NAVASKANI K:

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

- (a) the total number of Agro Processing Clusters approved and operationalized in Tamil Nadu Under the scheme;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to expedite the implementation of pending clusters in the State;
- (c) the impact of the scheme on improving the income of farmers in Tamil Nadu;
- (d) the total number of farmers in the State who have directly or indirectly benefited from the scheme;
- (e) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to ensure the inclusion of small and marginal farmers in Tamil Nadu under the Agro Processing Cluster Scheme;
- (f) whether any incentives or special provisions have been introduced to promote their participation; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing the Scheme  for  Creation  of  Infrastructure  for  Agro  Processing  Clusters  (APC),  a  component scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).

As on date, under the APC scheme,12 projects with total project cost of ₹333.625 crore and approved grant-in-aid of ₹81.69 crore, have been approved in the State of Tamil Nadu. Out of 12 approved projects, 02 projects have been operationalized benefiting 8000 farmers directly or indirectly. Details of the projects are shown in Annexure

To expedite implementation of the ongoing clusters, the Ministry  has taken following steps:

- i. Holding  regular  review  meetings  with  the  implementing  agencies  to  help  remove bottlenecks in implementation;
- ii. Regular monitoring of the status of the project through updated fact sheets/site visits.
- iii. Facilitating the implementers  to  obtain  the required statutory clearances  from concerned authorities/State Governments;
- iv. taking up issues with the concerned State Governments for smooth implementation of the projects.

(e) to (g): The APC Scheme is a demand driven scheme where applications from interested entrepreneurs are invited from time to time through Expression of Interests (EoI).

An APC can be set up by any entity/ organisation such as Govt. Departments / PSUs / Joint Ventures / NGOs / Cooperatives / Self Help Groups (SHGs) / Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) / Private Sector Companies / Partnership Firms / Proprietorship Firms etc.

The APC scheme guidelines have some distinct provisions to promote participation of Farmers and Self Help Groups with the aim to improve their income as per the details mentioned below :-

- i. The financial assistance is in form of grants-in-aid/subsidy @50% of eligible project cost for projects from SC/ST applicants, FPOs, SHGs and projects in Difficult Areas subject, to maximum of Rs.10 crore as against grants-in-aid/subsidy @35% of eligible project cost for projects from  general category applicants.
- ii. Combined Net worth to be eligible should not be  less than grants-in-aid sought under the  Scheme  for  applicant(s)  of  SC/ST  category,  FPOs,  SHGs  and  proposal  from Difficult  Areas  whereas  for  combined  Net  worth  required  for  general  category applicants is 1.5 times of grants-in-aid sought under the scheme
- iii. Term loan from the Bank and also infusion of equity is 10% of total project cost for proposals  from  Difficult  Areas  or  proposals  from  SC/ST  or  Farmer  Producer Organisations or Self-Help Groups as against 20% of the total project cost in respect of proposals from General Areas/category.

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ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFEREED TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5501 FOR ANSWERED  ON  03 rd   APRIL,  2025  REGARDING  'AGRO  FOOD  PROCESSING CLUSTER SCHEME IN TAMIL NADU'

## Details of projects approved in the State of Tamil Nadu under APC scheme:

|   S. No. | Name of the Project Execution Agency (PEA)   | Name of District   | Date of approval   | Project cost   |   Grant Approve d |   Release d GIA | Status                               |   No. of farmers benefitted / Expected to be benefitted |
|----------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|----------------|-------------------|-----------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | M/s JFK International Coimbatore             | 9                  | 01.08.201          | 16.71          |            4.1921 |         2.8566  | Operational                          |                                                    4000 |
|        2 | M/s P Duraisamy Maharaja Rice Mills Pvt Ltd  | Tiruppur           | 03.10.201 9        | 26.83          |            8.7682 |         6.2284  | At various stages of implementatio n |                                                    4000 |
|        3 | M/s Tiruvannamala i Market Committee         | Tiruvanna malai    | 29.04.202 0        | 25.506         |            5.7487 |         1.81084 | At various stages of implementatio n |                                                    4000 |
|        4 | M/s Salem Market Committee                   | Salem              | 29.04.202 0        | 25.252         |            5.9753 |         1.88222 | At various stages of implementatio n |                                                    4000 |
|        5 | M/s Theni Market Committee                   | Theni              | 29.04.202 0        | 26.308         |            5.9955 |         1.88858 | At various stages of implementatio n |                                                    4000 |
|        6 | M/s Dharmapuri Market Committee              | Krishnagiri        | 29.04.202 0        | 26.826         |            5.8937 |         1.85651 | At various stages of implementatio n |                                                    4000 |
|        7 | M/s Madurai Market Committee                 | Madurai            | 29.04.202 0        | 32.066         |            5.7912 |         1.82423 | At various stages of implementatio n |                                                    4000 |
|        8 | M/s Dindigul Market Committee                | Dindigul           | 29.04.202 0        | 29.018         |            6.7357 |         2.12174 | At various stages of implementatio n |                                                    4000 |
|        9 | M/s Cuddalore Market Committee               | Cuddalore          | 29.04.202 0        | 25.002         |            5.9793 |         1.88348 | At various stages of implementatio n |                                                    4000 |
|       10 | M/s Delta Foods                              | Pudukkotta i       | 08.06.202 0        | 24.312 5       |            7.472  |         5.25282 | Operational                          |                                                    4000 |
|       11 | M/s Vamsi RS Industrial Zone                 | Erode              | 17.11.202 1        | 33.167         |            9.1351 |         0       | At various stages of implementatio   |                                                    4000 |
|       12 | M/s Integrated Service Point Private Limited | Thiruvallur        | 28.02.202 4        | 42.635         |           10      |         3.3333  | n                                    |                                                    4000 |

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