Question : PROCESSING OF AGRO PRODUCTS

(a) whether the Government has formulated any long term scheme for processing of agro products in rural areas;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a) to (c): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been implementing various Schemes for promotion and development of food processing sector in other areas as well as in the rural areas :

(i) Scheme for Infrastructure Development with major components i.e. Mega Food Park, Cold Chain, Modernization of Abattoirs and Value Added Centres. For Cold chain, the scheme envisages financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid @ 50% of the total cost of plant and machinery and technical civil works in general areas and 75% for North Eastern Region and difficult areas subject to a maximum of Rs.10.00 crores. The Ministry has launched a comprehensive scheme for modernization of 50 abattoirs across the country. Under the scheme, financial assistance(grants-in-aid) would be provided at 50% and 75% of cost of plant & machineries and technical civil work in general and difficult areas respectively, subject to maximum of Rs. 15 crores for each project.

(ii) Under the Setting up / Technology Upgradation / Modernization / Expansion /Establishment of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Food Processing Industries extends financial assistance to food processing units in form of grant in aid @ 25% of the cost of plant and machinery and technical civil works subject to a maximum of Rs. 50 lakhs in General Areas or 33.33% subject to maximum of Rs. 75.00 lakhs in Difficult Areas to the Entrepreneurs.

(iii) Under the scheme of Human Resource Development, assistance has been provided to 56 colleges to start courses in food technology and food science. Food Processing Training Centres were established for training in Food Processing Industries.

(iv) Under the Research and Development scheme the major objective are to ensure compliance with food standards and to assist industries in the food sector to develop and implement quality management systems such as ISO 9000, HACCP etc., analyzing the samples received from the food processing sectors, imparting training in the areas, providing information on quality standards etc. Ministry of Food Processing Industries is observing the year 2008-09 as Food Safety and Quality Year and through various programmes, it has been planned to accelerate the awareness of Food Safety and Quality in the general masses.

(v) Under the scheme of Upgradation of Quality of Street Food with two components with Safe Food Town and the Food Street, the Safe Food Component is being implemented in 9 cities viz., Kochi, Ludhiana, Agra, Ranchi, Nagpur, Delhi, Guwahati, Jaipur and Panaji. The Food Street component is being implemented in two cities viz., Varanasi and Tirupati. The Safe Food Town are to be implemented in 50 selected cities across the country aimed at various capacity-building initiatives of Street Food Vendors based on their knowledge, attitude and practices towards handling, preparation, storage and presentation at a cost of Rs. 178.00 crores.

In the 11th Plan, it has also been proposed to continue assistance in the form of grant to private sector/public sector organisations through schemes for setting up of Food Testing Labs, Implementation of Quality Systems such as HACCP, ISO 9000, GHP and GMP Practices, Promotion of Research and Development, Capacity building and Human Resource Development and other promotional activities with higher levels of assistance.