Lok Sabha Question No. 1854 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-31
Subject: Special Grant for Setting up of Food Processing Units in Amritsar
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Gurjeet Singh Aujla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1854

ANSWERED ON 31 ST  JULY, 2025

## SPECIAL GRANT FOR SETTING UP OF FOOD PROCESSING UNITS IN AMRITSAR

## 1854. SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  people  living  in  the  border  villages  of Amritsar  rely  almost  entirely  on  agriculture  with  limited  income  sources  and  the  younger generation is losing interest in farming due to lack of industrial opportunities and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is considering to provide a special grant or package for setting up of food processing units, cold chains and value-addition infrastructure in the border belt of Amritsar to boost agro-industrial employment and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether international airport and cargo terminal at Amritsar is likely to be integrated to support the export of processed goods from this region and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to prioritize Amritsar under central schemes like PMFME, Mega Food Parks or introduce a border-specific food export cluster to boost the rural economy and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to create opportunities for youth of Border belt as the career sources are very less for them and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): In  order to  boost and ensure overall development of Food Processing Industries including  agro  based  industries,  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  has  been incentivizing  setting  up/expansion  of  related  infrastructure  through  its  two  Central  Sector Schemes namely Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) and Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI). Further, a Centrally sponsored PM Formalization  of  Micro  Food  Processing  Enterprises  (PMFME)  scheme  is  also  being implemented by MoFPI. All these three schemes are implemented across the country including Amritsar  district  of  Punjab  and  thereby  creating  off-farm  employment  opportunities  & increasing the income of the farmers in Food Processing Sector.

Under PMKSY, MoFPI has approved three food processing projects with total project cost of Rs 51.63 crores and approved grant-in-aid of Rs 12.17 crores in Amritsar district of Punjab.

Under PMFME Scheme, MoFPI has sanctioned 34 proposals with a total subsidy of Rs 2.24 crores in Amritsar district of Punjab.

(c): The processed food products are being exported from Amritsar's international airport and cargo terminal (Air Cargo Complex). The details of the food products exported from Amritsar's international airport and cargo terminal (Air Cargo Complex) are at Annexure.

(d)  &  (e): As  mentioned  earlier,  MoFPI  is  implementing  PMFME  scheme  for  providing financial, technical and business support for upgradation/ setting up of micro food processing enterprises including Amritsar district of Punjab. Further, the Mega Food Parks Scheme, has been discontinued with effect from 01.04.2021.

The schemes implemented by MoFPI aim towards creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet which includes storage, transportation,  etc.,  thereby  help  in  providing  better  returns  to  farmers  and  creating  huge employment  opportunities  especially  in  the  rural  areas,  increasing  the  processing  level, enhancing the export of the processed foods, which boosts rural economy and contribute in inclusive growth.

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ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1854 FOR ANSWER  ON  31 ST JULY, 2025 REGARDING  'SPECIAL  GRANT  FOR  SETTING  UP  OF  FOOD  PROCESSING UNITS IN AMRITSAR'

| Export of Agriculture &Processed Food Products from (Air Cargo Complex) Amritsar   | Export of Agriculture &Processed Food Products from (Air Cargo Complex) Amritsar   | Export of Agriculture &Processed Food Products from (Air Cargo Complex) Amritsar   | Export of Agriculture &Processed Food Products from (Air Cargo Complex) Amritsar   | Export of Agriculture &Processed Food Products from (Air Cargo Complex) Amritsar   | Export of Agriculture &Processed Food Products from (Air Cargo Complex) Amritsar   | Export of Agriculture &Processed Food Products from (Air Cargo Complex) Amritsar   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Products                                                                           | Value In USD                                                                       | Value In USD                                                                       | Value In USD                                                                       | Quantity In Kg                                                                     | Quantity In Kg                                                                     | Quantity In Kg                                                                     |
| Products                                                                           | 2022-23                                                                            | 2023-24                                                                            | 2024-25                                                                            | 2022-23                                                                            | 2023-24                                                                            | 2024-25                                                                            |
| Processed Vegetables                                                               | 2,90,995                                                                           | 10,40,923                                                                          | 5,24,406                                                                           | 2,740                                                                              | 8,072                                                                              | 7,140                                                                              |
| Fresh Mangoes                                                                      | 2,25,050                                                                           | 0                                                                                  | 3,30,341                                                                           | 69,953                                                                             | 0                                                                                  | 1,40,913                                                                           |
| Other Fresh Vegetables                                                             | 5,76,344                                                                           | 1,13,462                                                                           | 1,50,263                                                                           | 2,03,335                                                                           | 74,008                                                                             | 81,687                                                                             |
| Miscellaneous Preparations                                                         | 0                                                                                  | 20,620                                                                             | 34,529                                                                             | 0                                                                                  | 1,945                                                                              | 7,225                                                                              |
| Herbal And Medicinal Plants                                                        | 0                                                                                  | 0                                                                                  | 27,388                                                                             | 0                                                                                  | 0                                                                                  | 2,875                                                                              |
| Basmati Rice                                                                       | 611                                                                                | 52                                                                                 | 9,993                                                                              | 550                                                                                | 40                                                                                 | 8,000                                                                              |
| Other Fresh Fruits                                                                 | 49                                                                                 | 136                                                                                | 9,927                                                                              | 51                                                                                 | 150                                                                                | 8,893                                                                              |
| Fruits &Vegetables Seeds                                                           | 0                                                                                  | 0                                                                                  | 2,442                                                                              | 0                                                                                  | 0                                                                                  | 150                                                                                |
| Cereal Preparations                                                                | 0                                                                                  | 0                                                                                  | 160                                                                                | 0                                                                                  | 0                                                                                  | 36                                                                                 |
| Pulses                                                                             | 0                                                                                  | 306                                                                                | 0                                                                                  | 0                                                                                  | 525                                                                                | 0                                                                                  |
| Dairy Products                                                                     | 0                                                                                  | 375                                                                                | 0                                                                                  | 0                                                                                  | 140                                                                                | 0                                                                                  |
| Jaggery &Confectionery                                                             | 856                                                                                | 3,525                                                                              | 0                                                                                  | 414                                                                                | 604                                                                                | 0                                                                                  |
| Others (Betel Leaves &Nuts)                                                        | 0                                                                                  | 14,192                                                                             | 0                                                                                  | 0                                                                                  | 4,600                                                                              | 0                                                                                  |
| Total                                                                              | 10,93,905                                                                          | 11,93,591                                                                          | 10,89,449                                                                          | 2,77,043                                                                           | 90,084                                                                             | 2,56,919                                                                           |

Source: Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics

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