Lok Sabha Question No. 2136 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Modern Food Preservation and Processing Technologies
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2136

ANSWERED ON 12 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## MODERN FOOD PRESERVATION AND PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES

## 2136.   SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

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

- (a) whether the Ministry is  collaborating  with  other  Ministries  and  Departments  of  the Government to identify, adopt, and scale up diverse forms of modern food preservation and  processing  technologies  aimed  at  reducing  post-harvest  losses,  improving  food safety and enhancing value addition for farmers and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether such collaborations include engagement  with scientific and technical departments  such  as  the  Department  of  Atomic  Energy,  inter  alia,  for  specialised technologies  such  as  food  irradiation  along  with  other  emerging  preservation  and processing methods and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Ministry has established or proposes to establish convergence mechanisms with  export-promotion  and  regulatory  bodies,  including  the  APEDA,  to  align  food processing infrastructure with export requirements, international standards and market access;
- (d) if so, the details of such inter-ministerial and inter-agency coordination; and
- (e) if  not,  the  reasons  therefor  and  the  steps  being  taken  to  strengthen  institutional convergence in the food processing ecosystem?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e): The  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  collaborates  with  various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India to identify, adopt and promote modern food preservation and processing technologies with the objectives of reducing post-harvest losses, improving food safety and enhancing value addition for farmers. Such collaboration is undertaken through inter-ministerial  consultations,  scheme  convergence,  technical  advisory mechanisms and institutional partnerships.

Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) Scheme, representatives of line Ministries / Departments, including Department of Atomic Energy and Agricultural and Processed  Food  Products  Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA),  are  members  of  the Technical  Committee  for  evaluation  of  the  applications  received  for  financial  assistance. Setting  up  of  Irradiation  facilities  are  supported  through  Integrated  Cold  Chain  and  Value Addition Infrastructure Scheme of PMKSY. MoFPI consulted with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Department of Atomic Energy for specialized technologies such as food irradiation for ensuring compliance, enhancing shelf life and improving food safety. Applicants also have to submit an agreement with designated agency of Department of Atomic Energy for the supply of source of food irradiation.

Under Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme,  all  the  States/  UTs  have  appointed  State  Nodal  Agency,  constituted  State  Level Approval committee & District Level Committee for implementation of the scheme. MoFPI under PMFME Scheme has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) / Joint Letters with the  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  (MoRD),  Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs (MoHUA), Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), National Cooperative Development Corporation  (NCDC),  National  Scheduled  Tribes  Finance  and  Development  Corporation (NSTFDC),  National  Scheduled  Castes  Finance  and  Development  Corporation  (NSFDC), Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry  and Dairying (DAHD), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Further, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been signed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare  for  convergence  of  the  Agriculture  Infrastructure  Fund  (AIF)  Scheme  with  the PMFME Scheme, enabling micro food processing enterprises, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO), Self Help Groups (SHG) and cooperatives to access institutional credit.

In addition, MoFPI works in close coordination with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to align food processing infrastructure  with  export  requirements,  international  quality  standards  and  market  access, including  capacity  building  of  enterprises,  quality  certification,  and  promotion  of  exportoriented food processing. These arrangements facilitate technical support, capacity building, credit linkage, quality and food safety compliance, and inclusive participation of cooperatives, SHGs, and SC/ST entrepreneurs in the food processing sector.

Further,  MoFPI,  through  its  schemes,  encourages  adoption  of  other  emerging technologies such as Controlled temperature/ ventilated vehicle and Marketing Infrastructure (Retail chain of outlets for perishable products with facilities such as frozen storage/  cold  room/  cold  storage/  deep  freezers/  refrigerated  display  cabinets/  chillers/ packing/  packaging/  ripening  chamber  etc.)  as  part  of  its  preservation  and  processing methods.

In order to align food processing infrastructure with export requirements, international standards and market access, MoFPI is implementing 'Production Linked Incentive scheme' for Food Processing Sector with an outlay of Rs 10,900 Crore to support creation of global food manufacturing champions and support Indian brands of food products in international market.

With the objective to boost investments and sourcing of Indian food products, MoFPI had organized four editions of World Food India (WFI) during the years 2017, 2023, 2024 and 2025 which serve a premier platform to highlight investment opportunities and advancements in food processing by facilitating their integration into domestic and international markets. The event  brings  global  food  processing  companies,  innovators,  supply  chain  stakeholders, equipment manufacturers, etc. on a collaborative platform and provide foreign companies with tie-up/ business opportunities with its Indian counterparts.

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