(a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to run the food processing industries in agriculture dominated areas on the lines of cottage industries and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) the details of funds provided to promote the food processing industries in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra during the last three years?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)
(a): Government has recently approved a Central Sector Scheme – PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMPADA YOJANA (PMKSY) with an allocation of Rs.6,000 crore for the period 2016-20 coterminous with the 14th Finance Commission cycle for promotion and development of food processing sector in the country including Maharashtra.
The following schemes are implemented under PMKSY:
(i) Mega Food Parks;
(ii) Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure;
(iii) Creation/Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities;
(iv) Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters;
(v) Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages;
(vi) Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure; and
(vii) Human Resources and Institutions.
Out of the above, Scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters provides grant-in-aid with the following objectives:
(i) To create modern infrastructure for food processing closer to production areas.
(ii) To provide integrated and complete preservation infrastructure facilities from the farm gate to the consumer.
(iii) To create effective backward and forward linkages by linking groups of producers / farmers to the processors and markets through well-equipped supply chain.
(b): The details of funds provided under the Schemes of the Ministry during last three years to promote food processing industries in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra is given in the Statement Annexed.
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