:
(a) the percentage of grapes and mangoes processed in the
country during the last two years;
(b) whether this percentage is quite low; and
(c) if so, the steps taken by the Government to improve the
situation?
:
(a) the percentage of grapes and mangoes processed in the
country during the last two years;
(b) whether this percentage is quite low; and
(c) if so, the steps taken by the Government to improve the
situation?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES ( SHRI N.T. SHANMUGAM )
(a) & (b): As per Indian Horticulture Database, 2001,
published by National Horticulture Board, total production of
mangoes and grapes in the country during 1999 – 2000 was
105.03 lakh tonnes and 11.37 lakh tonnes respectively. Fruit
processing is both in organised and unorganised sectors and as
such fruit-wise figures of processing are not maintained
centrally. However, the processing of fruits & vegetables is
estimated to be around 2% in the country.
(c): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries provides
financial assistance through its Plan Schemes to Private
Sector Industries, Non-Governmental Organizations,
Cooperatives, Public Sector Undertakings, Human Resource
Development Institutions, Research & Development Institutions
etc. for the development of processed food sector including
industries based on grapes and mangoes. Besides the scheme of
financial assistance, a number of initiatives have been taken
to promote this sector. It has been included in the list of
priority sector for bank lending. Approval for foreign direct
investment under automatic route is available for most of the
processed food items. From the Budget Year 2001 – 2002, excise
duty on processed foods has been brought down to zero from
sixteen per cent.
The food park at Nasik has been sanctioned keeping in
view the potential for grape in the region. Food parks at
Lucknow, Varanasi and Kuppam have mango as one of their thrust
areas.