**Executive Summary**
This document is a response from the Minister of Food Processing Industries to Starred Question No. *18, answered on January 29, 2026, regarding financial assistance provided to food processing units in the Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency of Maharashtra. The response outlines the financial and technical support, job creation, schemes, and policies related to food processing in the region over the last five years. It also provides information on food parks and special economic zones.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Financial Assistance and Support:**
* MoFPI approved 4 food processing units with grants-in-aid of Rs 30.46 crores under PMKSY.
* 8 projects with a committed investment of Rs 165.88 crores were approved under PLISFPI.
* 1386 micro food processing units received subsidies of Rs 76.69 crores under the PMFME scheme in the Pune district of Maharashtra.
* PMFME scheme offers handhold support for formalization and operationalization of micro food processing enterprises.
* **Job Creation:**
* 10397 direct/indirect employment opportunities have been generated from operational projects under component schemes of PMKSY.
* 4158 direct/indirect employment opportunities have been generated under the PMFME scheme.
* 7355 direct/indirect employment opportunities have been generated under PLISFPI in the Pune district of Maharashtra.
* **Schemes and Policies:**
* MoFPI incentivizes the setting up/expansion of related infrastructure through PMKSY and PLISFPI.
* A Centrally sponsored PMFME scheme is also being implemented by MoFPI.
* These schemes aim to create modern infrastructure, improve supply chain management, enhance returns to farmers, reduce post-harvest losses, and increase processing levels.
* **Food Parks and Economic Zones:**
* MoFPI provides financial assistance as grants-in-aid to eligible entrepreneurs for establishing related infrastructure, but doesn't establish units itself.
* Mega Food Park and APC components of PMKSY aim for cluster development.
* The Mega Food Park Scheme has been discontinued since April 1, 2021.
* MoFPI has approved 3 Mega Food Parks and 13 APC in Maharashtra.
**Impact Analysis**
**Food Processing Units and Agri-businesses in Shirur Constituency**
* **Impact**: Benefit from financial assistance and technical support for expansion and operationalization.
* **Action Required**: Apply for available schemes and subsidies for food processing units.
**Entrepreneurs**
* **Impact**: Given aid, in the form of grants, for the establishment of related infrastructure.
* **Action Required**: Apply for funding.
**Farmers**
* **Impact**: Potentially benefit from better returns, reduced wastage of agricultural produce, and decreased post-harvest losses through improved infrastructure and supply chain management.
* **Action Required**: Utilize the infrastructure and schemes to enhance productivity and reduce losses.
**Job Seekers**
* **Impact**: Increased employment opportunities in the food processing sector.
* **Action Required**: Seek employment in operational projects under the component schemes of PMKSY, PMFME, or PLISFPI.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI): The central ministry responsible for food processing policies and schemes.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY): A comprehensive scheme for food processing infrastructure development.
Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI): A scheme focused on incentivizing food processing industries through production-linked incentives.
PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME): A scheme focused on supporting and formalizing micro food processing enterprises.
Maharashtra: The state to which the financial assistance and employment opportunities specifically relate.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *18
ANSWERED ON 29TH JANUARY, 2026
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FOOD PROCESSING UNITS IN SHIRUR
*18. DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:
Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:
(a) the total financial assistance and technical support provided to Food Processing Units
and agri-businesses in the Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency of Maharashtra during the last five
years;
(b) the number of jobs created by the food processing sector in the said region and the
measures being taken to encourage further investment therein;
(c) the details of any new schemes or policies being framed by the Government to promote
processing of agricultural produce and to reduce post-harvest losses; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to establish food parks and special economic zones
for the food processing sector in Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI CHIRAG PASWAN)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED
QUESTION NO. *18 FOR ANSWER ON 29TH JANUARY, 2026 REGARDING
“FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FOOD PROCESSING UNITS IN SHIRUR”
(a) : Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has approved 4 food processing units
with approved grants in aid of Rs 30.46 crores under Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana
(PMKSY), 8 projects with committed investment of Rs 165.88 crores under Production Linked
Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and 1386 micro food processing
units with subsidy of Rs 76.69 crores under PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing
Enterprises (PMFME) scheme during the last 5 years in the Pune district of Maharashtra.
Further, PMFME scheme also provides handhold support for formalization and
operationalization of the micro food processing enterprises.
(b) & (c): MoFPI provides subsidy/incentives to the eligible applicants through the schemes
implemented and thereby creating off-farm employment opportunities in Food Processing
Sector. As on 31st December, 2025, 10397 direct/ indirect employment opportunities have
been generated from the operational projects under component schemes of PMKSY, 4158
direct and indirect employment opportunities has been generated under PMFME scheme and
7355 direct/ indirect employment opportunities has been generated under PLISFPI in the Pune
district of Maharashtra.
In order to boost and ensure overall development of Food Processing Industries, MoFPI
has been incentivizing setting up/expansion of related infrastructure through its two Central
Sector Schemes namely PMKSY and PLISFPI. Further, a Centrally sponsored PMFME
scheme is also being implemented by MoFPI. All the three schemes are implemented across
the country including Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency of Maharashtra.
These schemes aim towards creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply
chain management from farm gate to retail outlet which includes storage, transportation, value
addition etc., thereby help in providing better returns to farmers, reducing wastage of
agricultural produce, reduction in post harvest losses, enhancing productivity and increasing
the processing level.
(d): Schemes implemented by MoFPI are not region specific but demand driven and MoFPI
does not establish food processing units on its own. However, it provides financial assistance
in the form of grants-in-aid to eligible entrepreneurs for establishing related infrastructure.
Mega Food Park and Creation of Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters (APC)
components of PMKSY are aimed at development of such Industries in clusters. The Mega
Food Park Scheme has been discontinued by the Ministry since 01.04.2021. So far, MoFPI has
approved 3 Mega Food Parks and 13 APC in Maharashtra.
*****