(a) whether the Government has identified the reasons for the low level of food processing in the country at present;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the level of food processing in each State/UT including Maharashtra; and
(d) the new initiatives taken/proposed to be taken to give impetus to food processing sector of the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. CHARAN DAS MAHANT)
(a) & (b): Fragmented supply chain and lack of adequate processing infrastructure along the value
chain are the main constraints for increasing the level of food processing in the country.
(c): The comparable data on level of food processing in each state including Maharashtra are
not available.
(d): The Government have taken up a number of schemes including setting up of Mega Food Parks,
Integrated Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure, setting up/ Modernization
of Abattoirs, Technology Upgradation/ Establishment/ Modernization of Food Processing Industries,
Skill Development etc. to catalyze growth in the food processing sector. A National Mission on
Food Processing has been launched as a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme from 2012-13 to give further
impetus to this sector through decentralization and better reach.