Question : CONTRACT FARMING



(a) whether the Government is considering a special scheme to involve entrepreneurs to take up contract farming to encourage the setting up of food processing industries; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)

(a) & (b): No, Sir. However, in the 11th Plan, the Ministry is implementing a plan scheme to establish Mega Food Parks with a view to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities for Food Processing Sector in the Country on pre- identified cluster basis with a strong backward and forward linkages and to provide value addition of agricultural commodities including poultry, meat, dairy, fisheries etc. in a demand driven. The scheme envisages financial assistance in the form of grants-in-aid upto 50% of the project cost excluding land component in general areas and upto 75% of the project cost in the difficult areas subject to a maximum of Rs. 50.00 crores.