(a) whether the Government provides financial assistance to promote dairy processing activities in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise; and
(c) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to promote dairy processing industries in surplus milk producing rural areas in the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The Ministry under the Central Sector Scheme for Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid @50% of the total plant and machinery and technical civil works in general areas, and @75% of the total cost of plant and machinery and technical civil works in difficult areas subject to a maximum of Rs. 10.00 crore for strengthening of cold chain infrastructure and establishing value addition with infrastructural facilities like sorting, grading, packaging and processing for horticultural and non-horticultural produce including milk. The details of units assisted under the Scheme for Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure during the last three years and current year are at Annexure-I. Ministry had also implemented a Central Sector Scheme for Technology Upgradation/Modernization/ Establishment of Food Processing Industries including milk processing. This scheme is now being implemented for spillover liabilities of the 11th plan. Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided for Setting up/ modernization/ expansion of food processing industries including milk processing in the country. State-wise financial assistance provided to the milk processing industries during the last three years and current year under this scheme is at Annexure-II.
Besides, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture is also implementing a Central Sector Scheme namely, ‘National Programme for Bovine Breeding & Dairy Development
(NPBB&DD)’. Under Dairy Development component of this programme, financial assistance is provided to States to create and strengthen infrastructure for procurement, processing and marketing of milk. State–wise financial assistance under dairy development schemes during last three years is placed at Annexure-III.
(c): The proposals under the schemes of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries are submitted by the private promoters/ entrepreneurs based on economic viability and availability of raw material and market opportunities.
Under NPBB&DD scheme of Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, financial assistance is also provided to States to create and strengthen infrastructure for procurement, processing and marketing of milk.