Lok Sabha Question No. 1381 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-03
Subject: Fruit Ripening Centres
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1381

## LOK SABHA ANSWERED ON 3 RD  May, 2016

## FRUIT RIPENING CENTRES

## 1381.   SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE:

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

(a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote  conversion  of  agriculture  produce  into more marketable products by value addition in various forms such as processing of Raw-Banana into wafers and production of pan masala candy and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether the Government proposes to set up fruit ripening centres near metro cities;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(d) the details of the schemes launched/ proposed for setting up the said ripening centres with cold  storage  facilities  and  the  common  packaging  units  to  promote  and  facilitate  ordinary individuals and common man to start agri-business?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a): In  order  to  promote  conversion  /  processing  of  agricultural  and  horticultural  produce including  Raw-Banana  in  the  country,  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  had  been implementing a Scheme namely Scheme for Technology Upgradation/ Establishment/ Modernization  of  Food  Processing  Industries  up  to  31.03.2012  which  was  subsumed  in  the Centrally  sponsored Scheme (CSS)-National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) with effect from 01.04.2012 till 31.03.2015.  Thereafter, the said scheme got delinked from Government of India's assistance and it was left to the State Governments to decide on its continuance from their increased resource as per recommendation of 14th Finance Commission.

Under the above schemes, financial assistance was provided in the form of Grant- in- aid to  various  target  groups  in  eleven  sectors  viz.  Consumer  Foods,  Bakery,  Dairy,  Fish,  Flour, Fruits and Vegetables Processing, Meat, Oil, Pulse, Rice and Wine and Beer for the purpose of doing  the  processing/  value  addition  /  shelf  life  enhancement  of  several  agricultural  and horticultural produce.  The processing of Raw-Banana was covered under fruits and vegetable processing sector.  The candy processing units were covered under consumer food sector.  The committed  pending  liabilities  under  the  Scheme  for  Technology  Upgradation/  Establishment/ Modernization of Food Processing Industries of 11 th Plan  period  are  still  being  considered  for sanction  and  assistance.  Under  the  scheme,  562  units  were  assisted  during  the  year  2015-16 which include units under fruits and vegetable sector as well as under consumer food sector.

(b)  to  (d):      Government  do  not  set  up  fruit  ripening  centres  on  its  own.    However,  the Government  has  been  implementing  two  major  schemes  under  which  financial  assistance  is provided for setting up of cold storage facilities and  ripening chambers to various entrepreneurs. The following is the details of the two schemes:

i). Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH): This  scheme  is being  implemented  by  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  as  a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa  and  bamboo.      Under  the  scheme,  financial  assistance  is  provided  for  the  projects relating  to  establishment  of  various components  of  cold  chain  including  ripening  chamber. For setting up of ripening chamber under the scheme, financial assistance is provided in the form of credit linked back ended subsidy @ 35% of the capital cost of project in general areas and 50 % in case of Hilly and scheduled areas.

ii). Scheme  of  Cold  Chain,  Value  Addition  and  Preservation  Infrastructure :  This scheme is implemented by Ministry of Food Processing Industries as Central Sector Scheme with the objective of arresting post-harvest losses of horticulture & non-horticulture produce and providing remunerative price to farmers for their produce. Under the scheme, financial assistance  is  provided  in  the  form  of  grant-in-aid  of  maximum  Rs10  Crore per  project  for setting up of integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure facilities without any break from the farm gate to the consumer.  This scheme is available in all States/UTs and rural & urban areas. Under this Scheme, the ripening chamber and cold storage can be set up either at the distribution hub or at minimal processing centres or at both locations.

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