(a) whether the Government has a proposal to set up more number of milk processing plants
with Central assistance during Eleventh Plan period;
(b) if so, the details of the proposal mooted in that regard and funds earmarked therefor; and
(c) the details of the Central assistance proposed to be provided to various States for setting
up of milk processing plants in that plan period?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (I/C)(SHRI SUBODH KANT SAHAI)
(a) to (c) The Milk and Milk products processing in Dairy sector plays a vital role in rural
economy since the Dairying is a major source of income for farmers of India. The Ministry
of Food Processing Industries (MFPI) is promoting organized Dairy processing sector
to accomplish upcoming demands of processed dairy products and helping to identify various
areas of research for future product development, scalable efficient technologies and quality
improvement to revamp the Indian dairy processing sector for domestic as well as export market
by way of providing financial assistance to the dairy processing units. MFPI provides financial
assistance under its plan scheme ‘Setting up/Modernization/ Expansion of food
processing industries’ which includes the Milk and Milk processing plants also. The financial
assistance is 25% of the cost of Plant and machineries and technical civil work subject
to maximum of Rs. 50.00 lakhs. In case of difficult areas the financial assistance is
33.33% subject to maximum of Rs.75.00 Lakhs.
The Dairy Technology Institutes, National Dairy Research Institute etc. are being
provided financial assistance under R&D Scheme of MFPI in order to develop specialized milk
products having appeal in the domestic and international market and for upgradation of their
processing technologies.
Strict processing standards in Dairy industry against adulterants, contaminants
and microbiological counts require to be followed. Therefore, for promotion of HACCP, GMP
processing lines in Dairy industry with Modern Laboratory infrastructure, financial assistance
is being provided under the scheme of Quality Assurance, Codex standards.
The total funds earmarked for the scheme of setting up/modernization/ expansion of
food processing Industries during the 11th plan is Rs. 600.00 Crores. Including that
for milk processing plants in various States. Besides, in the 11th plan it is proposed to
provide financial assistance to Dairy sector underthe Cold Chains component of the scheme
for Infrastructure Development for food processing industries.