Parliament Question: Establishment and promotion of food processing industries in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *159 ANSWERED ON 13TH FEBRUARY, 2026 ESTABLISHMENT AND PROMOTION OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES IN TAMIL NADU *159 SHRI I.S. INBADURAI: Will the Minister of Food Processing Industries be pleased to state: (a) the steps taken to promote the establishment and expansion of food processing industries in Tamil Nadu, particularly for value addition of agricultural, horticultural, fisheries and dairy products; (b) the number of food processing units established, jobs generated and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) linked to these units in Tamil Nadu under Central assistance; and (c) the measures undertaken to address challenges such as infrastructure gaps, cold storage shortages, logistics, credit access and market linkage for food processing enterprises in Tamil Nadu? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI CHIRAG PASWAN) (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *159 FOR ANSWER ON 13TH FEBRUARY, 2026 REGARDING “ESTABLISHMENT AND PROMOTION OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES IN TAMIL NADU” (a) to (c): In order to promote overall development of food processing sector including value addition of agricultural, horticultural, fisheries and dairy products, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been incentivizing setting up/expansion of related infrastructure through its two Central Sector Schemes namely Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) and Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and a Centrally sponsored PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme across the country including Tamil Nadu. The eligible entities under these Schemes include Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) and Farmer Producer Companies (FPC). MoFPI does not setup any food processing industry on its own. However, it incentivizes setting up of such industries through its three schemes. The following projects have been approved in Tamil Nadu, under the schemes of the Ministry as on 31.12.2025: -  PMKSY: 81 food processing projects have been approved, out of which 51 are operational generating 25,771 direct/indirect employment.  PLISFPI: Food processing Units in 19 locations are approved, generating 18,602 direct/indirect employment.  PMFME: (i) Loans to 17,869 micro enterprises are supported, generating 53,607 direct/indirect employment. (ii) 14 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO)/ Farmer Producer Companies (FPC) have been approved. (iii) Six proposals under Branding & Marketing component have been approved under the brands " Pudhugai Organics", "Mullai", "Pot Foods", "Bhumi Pride", "Poigai" and Theneera. (iv) Four Incubation Centres approved. (v) Seed capital support approved for 31174 Self Help Group members. *****