(a) the details of the steps taken by the Government to ensure that Food Processing Industries (FPI) are successfully established in North Eastern States specially in Arunachal Pradesh; and
(b) the details of the steps taken/being taken to integrate North Eastern States with central markets in India to sell food products at good rate?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)
(a) & (b): A Central Sector Scheme – PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMPADA YOJANA - (PMKSY) is being implemented for promotion and development of Food Processing Industries in the Country including Arunachal Pradesh and other North Eastern States.
The various schemes implemented under PMKSY are (i) Mega Food Parks; (ii) Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure; (iii) Creation /Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities; (iv) Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters; (v) Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages; (vi) Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure and (vii) Human Resources and Institutions. These are demand driven schemes and project promoters are provided grant-in-aid for their projects as per scheme guidelines.
A special dispensation is available to North Eastern States under the PMKSY such as for setting up of Mega Food Park, Government provides Grant-in-Aid @ 50% of eligible project cost in general areas and @ 75% of eligible project cost in North Eastern Region subject to a maximum of Rs 50 crores per project. Similarly, for projects under scheme for Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, Scheme for Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities; Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters and Scheme for Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages, Government provides Grant-in-Aid @ 35% of eligible project cost in general areas and @ 50% of eligible project cost in North Eastern Region subject to a maximum of Rs 10 crores, Rs 5 crores, Rs 10 crores and Rs 5 crores per project respectively under the above schemes.
The Scheme for Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages is implemented with the objectives of creating an effective backward and forward linkages for perishable agri-horti produce through setting up of primary processing centres/ collection centres at farm gate, distribution hub and retail outlets at the front end. This links production centres to consumption centres.
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