**Policy Summary: Cold Chain Hub and Food Processing Initiatives in Kandhamal, Odisha**
This document summarizes the Ministry of Food Processing Industries' (MoFPI) initiatives and support for food processing in the Kandhamal district of Odisha, as of July 24, 2025.
**Cold Chain Infrastructure:** No cold chain project has been approved in Kandhamal district under the Integrated Cold Chain Value Addition Infrastructure (Cold Chain) scheme under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) till date.
**Capacity Building:** Under the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, central funds have been released for capacity building in Kandhamal. As of June 30, 2025, 321 women entrepreneurs have been trained through the State Nodal Agency.
**PMFME Scheme:** In Odisha, 731 loans have been sanctioned under the PMFME scheme. One loan, amounting to Rs. 4.60 lakh, was sanctioned in Kandhamal district during the Financial Year 2024-25.
**SFURTI Scheme:** The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) has approved two clusters with a total central funding of Rs. 5.43 crore under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), benefiting 1106 traditional artisans involved in turmeric value addition.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Food Processing Industries: The Indian government ministry responsible for food processing policies and initiatives.
Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the question about the cold chain hub for tribal agro produce.
Kandhamal district of Odisha: A district in the state of Odisha, India, which is the focus of the question regarding food processing and cold chain development.
PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises PMFME Scheme: A central government scheme aimed at formalizing and supporting micro food processing enterprises.
Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries SFURTI: A scheme for the regeneration of traditional industries.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana PMKSY: A comprehensive scheme to boost the food processing sector in India.
Integrated Cold Chain Value Addition Infrastructure Cold Chain scheme: A component scheme under PMKSY focused on developing cold chain infrastructure.
Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises MSME: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies related to micro, small, and medium enterprises.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 903
ANSWERED ON 24TH JULY, 2025
COLD CHAIN HUB FOR TRIBAL AGRO PRODUCE
903. SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:
Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:
(a) whether Rs. 50 crore cold-chain hub for tribal agro-produce was sanctioned in December
2024 and includes Kandhamal district of Odisha and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether central funds have also been released for capacity building in food processing in
the district;
(c) if so, the current status of the project including land acquisition, implementation progress,
commissioning timeline, funds utilised and the number of women entrepreneurs trained
till June, 2025;
(d) whether food processing units have been approved under the PM Formalisation of Micro
Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme in Odisha particularly in Kandhamal
during the Financial Year 2024-25 and if so, the details thereof along with the Food
Processing Units currently operational; and
(e) whether the Government has supported value addition of turmeric, sal seeds and tamarind
from Kandhamal under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries
(SFURTI) and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)
(a) to (c): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing the
component scheme- Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure (Cold Chain
scheme) under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana(PMKSY). Under Cold Chain scheme,
no cold chain project has been approved till date in Kandhamal district of Odisha.
Under the Capacity Building component of the PM Formalisation of Micro Food
Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme of the MoFPI, central funds have been released for
imparting training to District Level Trainers and Self Help Group beneficiaries in the field of
food processing in Kandhamal district of Odisha.
A total of 321 women entrepreneurs have been trained in Kandhamal district of Odisha
till 30th June, 2025 under the Capacity Building component of the PMFME scheme through the
State Nodal Agency.
(d): A total of 731 loans have been sanctioned to the applicants towards credit linked back
ended subsidy under PMFME scheme in Odisha, out of which, 1 (one) loan with amount of
Rs. 4.60 lakh has been sanctioned in Kandhamal district during the Financial Year 2024-25.
(e): Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (M/o MSME) has approved two (2)
clusters with a total central funding of Rs. 5.43 crore under the Scheme of Fund for
Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) thereby benefitting 1106 traditional artisans
involved in value addition of turmeric.
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