(a) whether the Government has prepared any action plan to set up food processing industries in order to give a boost to the processing of potatoes grown in abundance by the farmers and to strengthen the financial condition of the later since they do not get proper remunerative price thereof;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State and place-wise; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
(a) &(b): Government has recently approved KISAN SAMPADA YOJANA with an outlay of Rs.6000 crore. KISAN SAMPADA YOJANA is a comprehensive package to give a renewed thrust to the food processing sector including that of potatoes processing. KISAN SAMPADA YOJANA includes new schemes of Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages, and Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities alongwith ongoing schemes of Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure and Human Resources and Institutions. The farmers, Farmers Producers Organizations, entrepreneurs, cooperative, societies, Self Help Groups, Private Companies and State PSUs etc. are eligible to avail financial assistance under these schemes for setting up food processing projects in the country.
The schemes of the Ministry are project-oriented applicable throughout the country and not state/location specific. The schemes provide freedom to the promoters to choose the project location based on availability of raw material, techno-economic feasibility and viability of the project.
(c) Does not arise.