Question : PROCESSING OF CASHEW NUTS

(a) the details of cashew-nut processing factory in the country, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government is considering to establish new cashew-nut processing factory in the country; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (I/C) (SHRI SUBODH KANT SAHAI)

(a): As per the information available with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),there exists 1800 Cashew- nut processing factories in the country.State-wise details are Annexed.

(b) & (c): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries do not set up food processing units on its own. However, for promotion of Food Processing Industries including Cashew processing units, the Ministry provides financial assistance in the form of grant under the Scheme of Technology Upgradation/ Modernisation / Establishment of food processing industries, for setting up of new unit or expansion/modernisation of existing food processing unit. Under this scheme, financial assistance to food processing units is provided in the form of grant-in-aid @ 25% of the cost of Plant & Machinery and Technical Civil Works subject to maximum of Rs 50 lakh in general areas or 33.33% subject to maximum of Rs. 75 lakh in difficult areas. In order to ensure speedy disbursement of the financial assistance under this scheme, the Ministry w.e.f. 01.04.2007 has decentralised the disbursement procedure through banks/ Financial Institutions.