The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing an umbrella scheme, namely, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2017-18 across the country. PMKSY is a comprehensive package of sub-schemes viz. (i)  Mega Food Parks, (ii) Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, (iii) Food Safety & Quality Assurance Infrastructure, (iv) Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities, (v) Creation of Infrastructure Development for Agro Processing Cluster, (vi) Creation of Backward and Forward Linkage and (vii) Human Resource and Institutions,  which results in creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet. It provides a big boost to the growth of food processing sector in the country, help in providing better prices to farmers, creating huge employment opportunities especially in the rural areas, reducing wastage of agricultural produce, increasing the processing level and enhancing the export of the processed foods. MoFPI invites online proposals/ applications from the prospective entrepreneurs by issuing Expression of Interest (EoI) time to time under various sub-schemes of PMKSY based on the availability of vacant slots and funds. Under the sub-schemes of PMKSY, financial support is being provided in the form of grants-in-aid against the eligible components as per their extant scheme guidelines. The salient features of the sub-schemes of PMKSY are provided below (detailed guidelines are available on website of the Ministry):

 

1. Mega Food Parks Scheme:

This sub-scheme has been discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021 with provision for meeting committed liabilities.

2. Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure Scheme:

The objective is to provide integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure facilities, without any break, from the farm gate to the consumer. It covers creation of infrastructure facility along the entire supply chain viz. pre-cooling, weighing, sorting, grading, waxing facilities at farm level, multi product/multi temperature cold storage, CA storage, packing facility, IQF, blast freezing in the distribution hub and reefer vans, mobile cooling units for facilitating distribution of non-horticulture, horticulture, fish/ marine (except shrimp), dairy, meat and poultry. The scheme allows flexibility in project planning with special emphasis on creation of cold chain infrastructure at farm level.

3. Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities Scheme:

The main objective of the Scheme is creation of processing and preservation capacities and modernisation/ expansion of existing food processing units with a view to increasing the level of processing, value addition leading to reduction of wastage. The processing activities undertaken by the individual unit covers a wide range of post-harvest processes resulting in value addition and/or enhancing shelf life with specialized facilities required for preservation of perishables. While expansion of processing capacity is necessary to increase the level of processing and reduce wastage, the induction of modern technology is intended to make a clear difference in terms of process efficiencies as well as improving the quality of the end product. The setting up of new units and modernization/ expansion of existing units are covered under the scheme.

4. Creation of Infrastructure Development for Agro Processing Cluster Scheme:

The scheme aims at development of modern infrastructure and common facilities to encourage group of entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on cluster approach by linking groups of producers/ farmers to the processors and markets through well-equipped supply chain with modern infrastructure. Each agro processing clusters under the scheme have two basic components i.e. Basic Enabling Infrastructure (roads, water supply, power supply, drainage, ETP etc.), Core Infrastructure/ Common facilities (ware houses, cold storages, IQF, tetra pack, sorting, grading etc) and at least 5 food processing units with a minimum investment of Rs. 25 crores. The units are set up simultaneously along with creation of common infrastructure. At least 10 acres of land in rural area or 5 acres of land in urban area is required to be arranged either by purchase or on lease for at least 50 years for setting up of Agro Processing Cluster.

5. Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages Scheme

This sub-scheme has been discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021 with provision for meeting committed liabilities.

6. Food Safety and Quality Assurance Scheme

The quality and food safety have become competitive edge in the global market for food products. For the all-round development of the food processing sector in the country. Apart from this, in the interest of consumer safety and public health, there is a need to ensure that the quality food products manufactured and sold in the market meet the stringent parameters prescribed by the food safety regulator. Keeping in view the aforesaid objectives, government has been extending financial assistance for setting up/ upgradation of Quality Control/ Food Testing Laboratories.

7. Human Resource and Institutions:
8. Research & Development: Under the scheme, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been extending financial assistance to undertake demand driven R&D work for the benefit of food processing industry in terms of product and process development, efficient technologies, improved packaging, value addition etc. with commercial value along with standardization of various factors viz. additives, colouring agents, preservatives, pesticide residues, chemical contaminants, microbiological contaminants and naturally occurring toxic substances within permissible limits.
9. Skill Development: The main objective of the scheme is to provide sector specific skilled workforce from floor level workers, operators, packaging and assembly line workers to quality control supervisor etc in the various segments of food processing industries.
10. Promotional Activities: To organize, co-sponsor, participate in all India level seminars, workshops, fairs and exhibitions for food processing sector to encourage investment in food processing and to create awareness of the schemes being implemented by the ministry. To commission studies/ surveys to assess, evaluate various aspects of food processing sectors and allied activities. To create awareness about schemes of the ministry through print/ audio-visual media through advertisements and publicity materials. To organize road shows, development of software and investor facilitation activities to promote food processing sector.
11. Strengthening of Institutions: To develop manpower resources in the field of food processing/ technology by offering B.Tech., M.Tech. & Ph.D courses and undertake R&D projects in the area of food technology through the National Institute of Food Technology  Entrepreneurship and Management.
12. Operation Greens Scheme:

(i) Long Term Interventions

• Enhancing value realisation of farmers by targeted interventions to strengthen production clusters and FPOs, and linking/ connecting the farmers with the market.
• Reduction in post-harvest losses by creation of farm gate infrastructure, development of suitable agri-logistics, creation of appropriate storage capacity linking consumption centres.
• Increase in food processing capacities and value addition in value chain by creating firm linkages with identified production clusters.

(ii) Short Term Interventions

The objective of the Scheme is to protect the growers of Eligible Crops from making distress sale and to reduce post-harvest losses. Subsidy is provided for transportation and hiring of storage facilities for fruits and vegetables.

(c). PMKSY provides scope for (i) reducing spoilage of perishables and to offer better price for farmers at farm gate by preventing forced sale of agro-horti produce, (ii) the retailers and food processors may derive benefit of purchasing minimal processed/ preserved food products at affordable cost and (iii) the consumers may obtain safe, nutritive and healthy processed foods for consumption.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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