Parliament Question: Food processing startups for farmers in Jharkhand

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2486 ANSWERED ON 13TH MARCH, 2026 FOOD PROCESSING STARTUPS FOR FARMERS IN JHARKHAND 2486 # SHRI DEEPAK PRAKASH: Will the Minister of Food Processing Industries be pleased to state: (a) whether Government proposes to introduce food processing startups for farmers in order to market their products; (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (c) whether adequate financial support has been provided to such startups in Jharkhand, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH) (a) to (c): In order to promote and ensure overall development of Food Processing Industries, 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 scheme namely PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme across the country including Jharkhand. Ministry provides subsidy/incentives to the eligible entities including startups under these schemes and thereby increasing the income of the farmers. MoFPI also support startups through its two autonomous Institutions namely, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship & Management, Kundli, Haryana (NIFTEM- K) and National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship & Management, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu (NIFTEM-T) across the country including Jharkhand. These Institutes provide handholding support, mentorship, training, access to facilities such as Pilot Plant, NABL- accredited Food Testing Labs, incubation services, quality testing, R&D support, networking opportunities, etc. to these Startups. MoFPI organized National Level Startup Grand Challenges during the World Food India events in 2023, 2024 and 2025, to foster innovation in the food processing sector. This national level initiative seeks to generate disruptive ideas through infusion of fresh perspectives and cutting-edge research. Winners of the grand challenges were awarded cash prizes as well as incubation support through NIFTEMs. Further, MoFPI organizes through NIFTEM-Kundli the Startup Conclave viz. SUFALAM (Startup Forum for Aspiring Leaders and Mentors) which specifically supports student-led startups with pilot-scale production and commercialization assistance enabling national-level startup exposure. Also, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade launched the Startup India initiative on 16th January 2016 to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation, startups and encouraging investments in the Startup ecosystem of the country. Under the Schemes of MoFPI, as on 31.12.2025, one project with subsidy of Rs 0.5 crore has been approved under PMKSY, 4665 micro food processing Enterprises with subsidy of Rs 94.82 crore under PMFME Scheme and under PLISFPI, food processing projects at two locations with committed investments of Rs 11.76 crores have been approved in Jharkhand. *****