Lok Sabha Question No. 2289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Setting up of High-Tech Food Processing Industries
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2289

ANSWERED ON 12 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## SETTING UP OF HIGH-TECH FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## 2289.  SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:

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

- (a) whether the Government has launched initiatives to establish high-tech food processing industries  nationwide  to  boost  value  addition,  generate  employment  for  youth  and strengthen farmer incomes, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the details of approved and operational high-tech food processing units including total investment, number of jobs created and technological collaborations with domestic and foreign companies made in this regard;
- (c) the details of the schemes, incentives and fund allocations provided during the last three years and the current year to promote high-tech food processing industries, especially for startups and MSMEs;
- (d) whether the Government has any plans to expand research, innovation and training programs  in  high-tech  food  processing,  particularly  for  rural  youth  and  women entrepreneurs to enhance employment and skill development, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether it is a fact that delays in approvals, land acquisition and licensing have slowed the setting up of high-tech food processing industries and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government would ensure faster clearances, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) : In order to promote and ensure overall development of food processing sector including  promotion  of  high-tech  food  processing,  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) and a Centrally sponsored PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme across the country.

These schemes aim towards creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet which includes storage, transportation, value addition  etc.,  thereby  help  in  providing  better  returns  to  farmers,  enhancing  productivity, reducing wastage of agricultural produce and creating off-farm employment opportunities.

In order to promote use of high-technology viz. use of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of  Things,  etc.  in  Food  Processing  Sector, MoFPI  extends  Grant-in-Aid  to  educational  and research institutions including Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) recognized Research and Development (R&D) units in private sector for related demand driven R&D projects through its R&D scheme under Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY).

Under R&D component of the Scheme, financial assistance as grant-in-aid is provided to  Private  organizations/  universities/institutions/R&D  laboratories  and  CSIR  recognized R&D units in private sector to the tune of 50% of equipment cost in general areas and 70% in difficult  areas  and  to  various  Universities,  IITs,  Central/  State  Government  Institutions, Government funded organizations to promote and undertake demand driven R&D work in food  processing  sector  for  product  &  process  development,  design  and  development  of equipment,  improved  storage,  shelf-life,  packaging  etc.  R&D  projects  of  Government organizations/  Institutions  are  eligible  for  100%  grant-in-aid  for  the  cost  of  equipment, consumables and expenditure related to Research Fellows, etc.

In addition, National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship & Management (NIFTEM)  Kundli,  Haryana  and  NIFTEM,  Thanjavur,  Tamil  Nadu  under  administrative control of MoFPI, are also engaged in R&D activities in the sector.

The details of R&D projects approved by MoFPI in the field of high-technology for development of Food Processing Sector since 2016-17 under the R&D component scheme of PMKSY are at Annexure.

MoFPI provides subsidy/incentives to the eligible entities including startups and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) under schemes implemented by MoFPI.

( e) & (f): At times, the projects approved under schemes of MoFPI face delays in obtaining statutory clearances/ certificates from the State Govt. regarding Consent to Establish, Consent to Operate, building plan approval, electricity connection etc., have led to delay in completion of some of these projects.

MoFPI  has  taken  various  measures  for  timely  implementation  of  these  projects, which  include  (i)  Dashboard  for  monitoring  the  progress  of  the  projects;  (ii)  Regularly review with the promoters to help remove bottlenecks in implementation; (iii) Assessing the progress of projects though site visits to prevent delays in their completion; (iv) Issues taken up with the Banks/ Financial Institutions to expedite sanction and disbursement of term loan to  the  projects;  (v)  Penal  provisions  on  the  promotors  in  case  of  delayed  completion  of projects;  (vi)  MoFPI,  on  the  request  of  project  implementing  agencies,  also  took  up  the matter with the concerned department of State Government and their agencies for smooth and timely implementation.

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ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2289  FOR  ANSWER  ON  12 TH   FEBRUARY,  2026 REGARDING 'SETTING UP OF HIGH-TECH FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES'

List of R&D projects approved in the field of high-technology for development of Food Processing Sector under R&D component scheme of PMKSY since 2016-17 are as under:-

|   Sr No. | Name of the Project                                                                                                   | Institute Name                                                 |   Project Cost (In Lakh) |   Approved GIA(In Lakh) |   Released GIA (in Lakh) | Status    |
|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------|-----------|
|        1 | 3-D Printed Foods: Personalized Nutrition to Address Malnutrition in India                                            | NIFTEM- Thanjavur                                              |                    55.42 |                  55.42  |                    50.28 | Completed |
|        2 | Development of active intelligent packaging system with antimicrobial agent for fruits and vegetables                 | NIFTEM- Thanjavur                                              |                    53.04 |                  53.04  |                    45.94 | Completed |
|        3 | Design and development of hot air assisted continuous Infrared drying system for high value fish and fishery products | ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, Kerala |                    27.02 |                  27.02  |                    25.02 | Completed |
|        4 | Waste of wealth: Extracting nutraceutical (polyphenols) from troical fruits residue by biorefinery approach           | Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technique, Nagpur           |                    32.79 |                  32.79  |                    32.79 | Completed |
|        5 | Monascus Purpureus CFR 410-11 fermented cowpea Tofu as functional food                                                | Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore          |                    24.9  |                  24.9   |                    23.23 | Completed |
|        6 | Development of Blockchain-based Traceability Solution for Agri-Food Supply Chains                                     | NIFTEM, Kundli, Sonepat, Haryana                               |                    18.73 |                  18.731 |                    16.19 | Completed |
|        7 | Phytochemical profiling and valorisation of Pomelo fruit of Northeast region                                          | Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam                               |                    41.48 |                  41.48  |                    36.68 | Completed |

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