Food processing, storage capacity to increase in country

ATM News Network: Through various schemes, the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries is helping to strengthen food processing and food preservation infrastructure with efficient supply chains. This is bridging the gap between production and processing capacity as well as post-harvest losses, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Pralhad Singh Patel informed in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

He said that since the year 2016-17, the Ministry has been implementing Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), a comprehensive scheme in the central government sector, and the projects completed under the component schemes of this scheme have created about 194 lakh metric tonnes of storage and processing capacity in the country.

As part of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing the centrally sponsored Prime Minister's Formalization of Micro Food Processing Industries (PMFME) scheme from the year 2020-21 to provide financial, technological and commercial support to micro food processing industries. So far the applications of 18,472 beneficiaries have been approved under this scheme.

Also, to create facilities for expansion of food processing capacity by creating quality brands in the food processing sector over a period of 6 years (from 2021-22 to 2026-27) with a total expenditure of Rs. Assistance Grant Scheme (PLISFPI) aims to Union Minister Pralhad Singh Patel informed that a total of 180 proposals have been approved under various types of this scheme.