THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. CHARAN DAS MAHANT)
(a) to (c): The data on number of food processing units
including public and private owned units are not maintained
by Ministry of Food Processing Industry. As per Annual
Survey of Industries there were 26,221 registered food
processing units in the country in 2007-08. Details are
given at Annexure- I.
(d) & (e): The Ministry under its Plan Scheme for Technology
Upgradation/ Establishment/ Modernization of FPIs extends
the financial assistance for setting up of new food
processing units as well as technological upgradation and
expansion of existing units in the country. Ministry extends
financial assistance in the form of grants-in-aid to
entrepreneurs @ 25% of the cost of Plant and Machinery and
Technical Civil Works subject to a maximum of Rs. 50 lakhs
per project in general areas and @ 33.33% subject to maximum
of Rs. 75 lakhs per project in difficult areas. The details
of the financial assistance provided to the entrepreneurs in
the country is at Annexure â II.
The persons employed under the registered Food
Processing Industries have been increasing from 2004-05 to
2007-08. There has been a fall in the growth rate of
employment in registered food processing units in 2007-08
due to global slowdown in economic activity. As per National
Statistical Survey Organization 62nd round data, in the
unorganized food processing sector, 63,45,768 persons were
employed during the year 2005-06.