Question : NATIONAL MISSION ON FOOD PROCESSING .

(a) whether the Government is implementing the National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the guidelines for setting up food processing industries in the country;

(c) whether the Government proposes to review the said Mission to make it more effective in the development and promotion of Food Processing Industries (FPIs) in the country, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has sought any cooperation of foreign countries in setting up of FPIs to make it at par with international standards, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the efforts of the Government to assist the local industries to establish value added food processing industries in the country including Andhra Pradesh?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a): Yes, Madam.

(b): Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) had launched a Centrally Sponsored Scheme - National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) implemented through States / UTs during 12th Five Year Plan. Under the Mission, one of the schemes is for Technology Upgradation / Establishment / Modernization of Food Processing Industries, which aims at creation of new processing capacity and up-gradation of existing processing capabilities in sectors. Under the scheme, financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid is provided to entrepreneurs as per following pattern of assistance:
# 25% of the cost of Plant & Machinery and Technical Civil Works, subject to a maximum of Rs. 50 lakhs in general areas.
# 33.33% of the cost of Plant & Machinery and Technical Civil Works, subject to a maximum of Rs. 75 lakhs in difficult areas (i.e. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep) and Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) areas.
# 50% of the cost of Plant & Machinery and Technical Civil Works, subject to a maximum of Rs.100 lakhs for North-Eastern States including Sikkim.
All the State Governments have been empowered to receive the applications, approve/ sanction/reject and release of grant-in-aid to the eligible beneficiaries under the NMFP. Mission also provides flexibility in selection of location of projects as well as beneficiaries, to harness the potential of value addition by using locally grown raw material. The detailed guidelines of the NMFP has been displayed on MOFPI website: www.mofpi.nic.in

(c): There is no proposal to review the above said Mission.

(d): Ministry of Food Processing Industries had entered into an agreement in 2012 with France for promoting co-operation in the field of food processing and allied sectors.

(e): In order to facilitate the local industries and prospective entrepreneurs for establishing value added food processing industries in the country including Andhra Pradesh, one of the schemes namely Technology Upgradation / Establishment / Modernization of Food Processing Industries is implemented under the Mission as mentioned at part (a) of the reply. Under the Mission, State Governments have been provided flexibility focus areas / sectors, location of projects as well as beneficiaries, to harness the potential of value addition by using locally grown raw material. This initiative of the Ministry would give an impetus to food processing industries in the country.