(a) Whether adequate food processing facilities are available in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh to meet the demand of food processing in the region;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to promote food processing in the region?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)
(a) & (b): As per the latest Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), 2015-16, conducted by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the total number of factories/units in the registered food processing sector in the country in the States of Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh are 233 and 2086 respectively.
(c): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) with an allocation of Rs. 6,000 crore for period 2016-20 co-terminus with the 14th Finance Commission cycle. The PMKSY has seven component schemes i.e. (i)Mega Food Parks, (ii) Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, (iii) Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure, (iv) Human Resources and Institutions, (v) Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters, (vi) Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages and Creation/Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities. These schemes are implemented in all States of India including the States of Jharkhand and Uttarpradesh. These schemes are demand driven and are not any region specific. The PMKSY is a comprehensive package resulting in creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet to give a major boost to the growth of food processing sector in the country and is a big step towards doubling of farmers’ income, 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.
Further, the MoFPI has recently launched a new Central Sector Scheme “Operation Greens” for integrated development of Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) crops value chain, with an outlay of Rs.500 crore to, inter alia, promote Farmers Producers Organizations (FPO), agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management of FPOs has been launched in 2018. The scheme is implemented in top producing 9 States on pilot basis including the State of Uttar Pradesh.
Under these schemes financial assistance as capital subsidy in the form of grants-in-aid is provided to the eligible applicants against the Expression of Interest (EoI) issued by the MoFPI from time to time to set up food processing industry/projects/units. Individuals, farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), entrepreneurs, cooperatives, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Private Companies and central/State PSUs etc. are eligible for financial assistance. The rate of subsidy ranges from 35% to 75% of the eligible project cost subject to the specified limit depending on the scheme and location of the project.
*****