Parliament Question: Establishment of Export Facilitation Hub in Amritsar

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1462 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY, 2025 ESTABLISHMENT OF EXPORT FACILITATION HUB IN AMRITSAR 1462. SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that the Amritsar border region, with its fertile land and strategic location, holds immense potential for large-scale export of fruits and vegetables to neighbouring and international markets; (b) whether the Government establish an advanced agricultural technology and export facilitation hub in the Amritsar district, equipped with state-of-the-art research, irrigation systems, cold chain logistics, and value addition units; (c) the details of funds allocated to provide technical support for promoting high-yield, climate-resilient crop varieties, precision farming techniques and modern post-harvest management practices in the border area of Amritsar; and (d) the details of steps taken to enhance agricultural infrastructure in the region to support export-oriented farming and create direct access for farmers to international markets, thereby boosting rural income and national agri-exports? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): The Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative of Department of Commerce, conducted in coordination with state governments, district-level authorities, export promotion councils, industry bodies, and institutional stakeholders etc. focuses on issues pertaining to enhancing export potential of identified products by way of stakeholderconsultation. Under the DEH initiative, agro commodities, rice, and floriculture products are among the key identified products for the Amritsar district. (c): The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare are implementing various schemes to strengthen the agricultural ecosystem in the country including Punjab and its border areas. The schemes wise budget allocation for the F.Y. 2025-26 is at annexure-I. (d): Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme was launched in 2020 under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative with an objective to mobilize a medium or long-term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets through incentives and financial support in order to improve agriculture infrastructure in the country. AIF promotes the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies, including state-of-the-art infrastructure for cold chain logistics and value addition units such as sorting, grading, primary processing, and packaging facilities. Through its financial support mechanisms—like interest subvention and credit guarantee—the Scheme incentivizes investment in modern farm infrastructure across the value chain. In the district of Amritsar, projects supported under AIF include the setting up of cold storage units, warehouses, packaging units, and processing units that incorporate modern post-harvest management practices. Additionally, investments in precision farming techniques are also eligible under AIF. These facilities help farmers reduce post- harvest losses, improve shelf life, and fetch better market prices. The district has also seen interest in setting up agri-tech-enabled units to support efficient and sustainable farming practices. Further, the Department of Commerce through APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) provides financial assistance to its member exporters including FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisation) and FPCs (Farmer Producer Company) across the country including Punjab, for export promotion of scheduled agriculture products under Agriculture and Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025- 26) in following three broad areas:a. Scheme for Infrastructure Development- Financial assistance for setting up of packhouses facilities with packing / grading lines, pre-cooling unit with cold storage and refrigerated transportation etc, cable system for handling of crops like banana, pre-shipment treatment facilities such as irradiation, vapor heat treatment, hot water dip treatment and Common agri-infrastructure facilities, reefer vans and missing gap in the existing infrastructure of individual exporters. The Centre for Perishable Cargo (CPC) facility at Amritsar Airport for handling perishable agri-export cargo had been established with the funding support of APEDA. b. Scheme for Quality Development –Financial assistance for purchase of laboratory testing equipment, installation of quality management systems, handheld devices for capturing farm level coordinates for traceability and testing of water, soil, residues and pesticides etc. c. Scheme for Market Promotion- The assistance covers participation of exporters in international trade fairs, organizing Buyer Seller meets, developing packaging standards for new products, and upgrading the existing packaging standards. The exporters of Punjab including Amritsar have been encouraged and enabled participation in the domestic/international trade fairs, Buyer Seller Meets, roadshows and other export promotional campaigns. Complete details of financial assistance guidelines are available at APEDA website www.apeda.gov.in under the “Scheme” tab. Under APEDA’s market development initiatives, APEDA assisted the trial shipment of Rose scented fresh Litchi from Pathankot to Doha & Dubai via Amritsar by air in June 2025. Similarly, trial consignments for export of fresh litchi to London, Kinnow to Russia/Singapore sourced from farmers in Punjab, have also been facilitated in the past. Export oriented capacity building programs have been organised in Punjab in collaboration with Department of Horticulture and Agriculture across several districts including Amritsar to create awareness about agricultural exports and nurture the farmers, agri- startups, women entrepreneurs for venturing into exports in order to get better realization of their produce.Annexure-I Annexure referred in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1462 to be answered on 29.07.2025. (Rs. in crore) S.no Name of Schemes/Description BE-2025-26 A Central Sector Schemes/projects 1 Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana 12242.27 2 Modified interest Subvention 22600.00 3 Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM- 6941.36 AASHA) 4 Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) 63500.00 5 Pradhan Mantri Kisan Mandhan yojana 120.00 6 Formation and promotion of Farmers producers Organization 584.00 7 Agriculture Infrastructure Fund 900.00 8 Namo Drone Didi 676.85 9 Blended Capital Support to Finance Startups for Agriculture and 71.50 rural Enterprise Relevant for Farm Produce Value Chain 10 National Bee Keeping Honey Mission (NBHM) 75.00 11 Cotton Technology Mission 500.00 12 Mission for Pulses 1000.00 13 Mission for Vegetables and Fruits 500.00 14 National Mission on Hybrid Seeds 100.00 15 Support for Makhana Board 100.00 Additional Transfer to agriculture infrastructure Fund and -1000.00 Development Total- Central Sector Schemes/Projects 108910.98 B Centrally Sponsored Schemes 1 Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) 8500.00 2 National Mission on natural Farming 616.01 3 Krishionnati Yojana 8000.00 Total-Centrally Sponsored Schemes 17116.01 Total-Central Sector Schemes+ Centrally 126026.99 Sponsored Schemes C Establishment and other central expenditure of the Centre 1263.17 Total Budget Estimate of DA&FW 127290.16 *****