Lok Sabha Question No. 4494 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: Job Opportunities in Food Processing Sector
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4494

ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2026

## JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN FOOD PROCESSING SECTOR

## 4494.  DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

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

- (a) the extent to which food processing units have helped to increase farmers' income;
- (b) the steps taken by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for quality control;
- (c) whether there is a possibility of creating new job opportunities in the food processing sector, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the status of the food parks sanctioned in Kerala?

## ANSWER

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

(a): In  order  to  promote  and  ensure  overall  development  of  Food  Processing  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) and  a Centrally sponsored scheme namely PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme across the country.

All  these  schemes  are  implemented across the country and  aim towards creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet which  includes  storage,  transportation,  creation  of  market  linkages  etc.,  thereby  help  in reducing post-harvest losses and facilitating enhance farmers income.

(b): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down sciencebased standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. Towards achieving the same, FSSAI has established a network of 252 food testing laboratories for analysis of food samples and 24 Referral Food Laboratories for the analysis of appellate samples by empaneling food testing laboratories of various govt institutes, states and of private entities.  Apart  from  this,  there  are  305  mobile  food  testing  laboratories  or  Food  Safety  On Wheels (FSW) to combat adulteration in various food commodities, currently, deployed across 35 States/UTs.

(c): MoFPI  provided  financial  assistance  to  the  entrepreneurs  under  its  three  schemes  viz. PMKSY, PLISFPI & PMFME and thereby creating off-farm employment opportunities across the country. As on 31.12.2025, 4.69 lakh direct/ indirect employment opportunities have been generated from the operational projects under component schemes of PMKSY, 5.18 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities have been generated under PMFME scheme and 3.29 lakh direct/ indirect employment opportunities has been generated under PLISFPI across the country.

(d): MoFPI has approved 2 Mega Food Parks and 2 Agro Processing clusters (Mini Food Parks) under component schemes of PMKSY in the state of Kerala. Details are placed at Annexure .

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ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (d)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  4494  FOR  ANSWER  ON  19 TH  MARCH,  2026 REGARDING 'JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN FOOD PROCESSING SECTOR'

Mega Food Parks and Agro Processing clusters (Mini Food Parks) approved for assistance in Kerala under component schemes of PMKSY

(Rs in Cr)

| Project Name                                                        | District                                                            | Date of Approval                                                    | Project Cost                                                        | Approved Grant-in-aid                                               | Released Grant-in- aid                                              | Status                                                              |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Component Scheme-Mega Food Park                                     | Component Scheme-Mega Food Park                                     | Component Scheme-Mega Food Park                                     | Component Scheme-Mega Food Park                                     | Component Scheme-Mega Food Park                                     | Component Scheme-Mega Food Park                                     | Component Scheme-Mega Food Park                                     |
| Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation            | Palakkad                                                            | 27.11.2015                                                          | 105.39                                                              | 50                                                                  | 50                                                                  | Operational                                                         |
| Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd                 | Alappuzha                                                           | 27.11.2015                                                          | 129.15                                                              | 50                                                                  | 37.80                                                               | Operational                                                         |
| Component Scheme-Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters Scheme | Component Scheme-Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters Scheme | Component Scheme-Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters Scheme | Component Scheme-Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters Scheme | Component Scheme-Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters Scheme | Component Scheme-Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters Scheme | Component Scheme-Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters Scheme |
| Chendayad Granites Private Limited                                  | Wayanad                                                             | 03.10.2019                                                          | 29.5                                                                | 9.97                                                                | 9.65                                                                | Operational                                                         |
| Synthite Industries Private Limited                                 | Ernakulam                                                           | 30.04.2020                                                          | 42.22                                                               | 9.05                                                                | 8.37                                                                | Operational                                                         |

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