Lok Sabha Question No. 18 (STARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: Financial Assistance to Food Processing Units in Shirur
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *18

ANSWERED ON 29 TH  JANUARY, 2026

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FOOD PROCESSING UNITS IN SHIRUR

## *18. DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

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

- (a) the total financial assistance and technical support provided to Food Processing Units and agri-businesses in the Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency of Maharashtra during the last five years;
- (b) the number of jobs created by the food processing sector in the said region and the measures being taken to encourage further investment therein;
- (c) the details of any new schemes or policies being framed by the Government to promote processing of agricultural produce and to reduce post-harvest losses; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to establish food parks and special economic zones for the food processing sector in Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI CHIRAG PASWAN)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *18  FOR  ANSWER  ON  29 TH   JANUARY,  2026  REGARDING 'FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FOOD PROCESSING UNITS IN SHIRUR'

(a) : Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has approved 4 food processing units with approved grants in aid of Rs 30.46 crores under Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), 8 projects with committed investment of Rs 165.88 crores under Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and 1386 micro food processing units  with  subsidy  of  Rs  76.69  crores  under  PM  Formalization  of  Micro  Food  Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme during the last 5 years in the Pune district of Maharashtra.

Further,  PMFME  scheme  also  provides  handhold  support  for  formalization  and operationalization of the micro food processing enterprises.

(b) & (c): MoFPI provides subsidy/incentives to the eligible applicants through the schemes implemented  and  thereby  creating  off-farm  employment  opportunities  in  Food  Processing Sector.  As on 31 st December, 2025, 10397 direct/ indirect employment opportunities have been  generated  from  the  operational  projects  under  component  schemes  of  PMKSY,  4158 direct and indirect employment opportunities has been generated under PMFME scheme and 7355 direct/ indirect employment opportunities has been generated under PLISFPI in the Pune district of Maharashtra.

In order to boost and ensure overall development of Food Processing Industries, MoFPI has been incentivizing setting up/expansion of related infrastructure through its two Central Sector  Schemes  namely  PMKSY  and  PLISFPI.  Further,  a  Centrally  sponsored  PMFME scheme is also being implemented by MoFPI. All the three schemes are implemented across the country including Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency of Maharashtra.

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,  reducing  wastage  of agricultural produce, reduction in post harvest losses, enhancing productivity and increasing the processing level.

(d): Schemes implemented by MoFPI are not region specific but demand driven and MoFPI does not establish food processing units on its own. However, it provides financial assistance in  the  form  of  grants-in-aid  to  eligible  entrepreneurs for  establishing  related  infrastructure. Mega  Food  Park  and  Creation  of  Infrastructure  for  Agro-processing  Clusters  (APC) components of PMKSY are aimed at development of such Industries in clusters. The Mega Food Park Scheme has been discontinued by the Ministry since 01.04.2021. So far, MoFPI has approved 3 Mega Food Parks and 13 APC in Maharashtra.

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