More than 1.4 lakh food processing projects have been approved under various central schemes to give a boost to the rural economy, minister of state for food processing industries Ravneet Singh said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
To enhance processing infrastructure, the ministry of food processing industries (MoFPI) has been incentivizing the setting up and expansion of related infrastructure through its two central sector projects – Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) and Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) – as well as the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme across the country.
Under PMKSY, MoFPI approved 1,134 food processing projects, including 41 mega parks and 395 cold chain projects across the country till 30 June 2025. Under the PMFME scheme, 144,517 proposals were approved and under PLISFPI, 170 proposals were cleared till 30 June.
These schemes aim at increasing preservation and processing capacities, reducing post-harvest losses, developing value-added products, introducing innovative technologies, enhancing productivity & efficiency in food processing, fostering entrepreneurship, providing job opportunities and skill development, which give a momentum to the economy and contribute to inclusive growth, he said.
As part of these schemes, the ministry provided financial assistance for the setting up of processing-related infrastructure across the country, including Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh. Most of the approved projects are in rural areas and support local farmers.
Under the PMFME scheme, the ministry approved 261 proposals in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district till 30 June. Kushinagar has been identified for a banana cluster under PMKSY’s ‘operation greens’ component. Banana has also been identified as a one-district-one-product under the PMFME scheme.
Financial support is given in the form of grants-in-aid or subsidy for setting up of food processing projects, creating both processing and preservation infrastructure facilities. The processing facilities created under PMKSY’s ‘component schemes’ helps add value to raw farm produce, thereby fetching higher prices, the minister said.
Similarly, temperature-controlled transport facilities, cold storage, frozen storage, and controlled atmosphere storage facilities, as well as irradiation, help in the faster movement of raw & finished products – reducing post-harvest losses and increasing shelf life. These measures help in providing better returns to farmers and creating employment opportunities.
The PLISFPI scheme helps support the creation of global food manufacturing champions and supports Indian brands in the international market. The scheme is being implemented over six years from 2021-22 to 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore.
With the objective to attract investments and sourcing of Indian food products, the ministry had organized three editions of World Food India (WFI) in 2017, 2023 and 2024, which serve a premier platform to highlight investment opportunities and advancements in food processing by facilitating their integration into domestic and international markets.
The event brings global processing companies, innovators, supply chain stakeholders, equipment manufacturers, etc., on a collaborative platform and provides foreign companies with business opportunities with its Indian counterparts, he said.
IndiFoodBev — authentic, impactful and influential
An English-language food and beverage processing and packaging industry B2B platform in print and web, IndiFoodBev is in its third year of publication. It is said that the Indian food and beverage industries represent approximately US$ 900 billion in revenues which implies more than 20% of the country’s GDP. Eliminating the wastage on the farmside can help to deliver more protein to a higher number of the population apart from generating sizable exports. The savings in soil, seeds, water, fertilizer, energy and ultimately food and nutrition could be the most immense contribution that country is poised to make to the moderation of climate change.
To improve your marketing and grow sales to the food and beverage processing and packaging industry, talk to us. Our research and consulting company IppStar [www.ippstar.org] can assess your potential and addressable markets in light of the competition. We can discuss marketing, communication, and sales strategies for market entry and growth.
Suppliers and service providers with a strategy and budget for targeted marketing can discuss using our hybrid print, web, video, and social media channels to create brand recognition linked to market relevance. Our technical writers are ready to meet you and your customers for content.
The second largest producer of fruit and vegetables in the world is continuously expanding processing capacities and delivery systems with appropriate innovative technologies. We cover product and consumer trends, nutrition, processing, research, equipment and packaging from farm to thali. Get our 2025 media kit and recalibrate your role in this dynamic market. Enhance your visibility and relevance to existing markets and turn potential customers into conversations. Ask for a sample copy of our bi-monthly in print or our weekly IndiFoodBev eZine each Wednesday.
For editorial info@ippgroup.in — for advertisement ads1@ippgroup.in and for subscriptions subscription@ippgroup.in
Naresh Khanna – 10 February 2025
Subscribe Now
