Parliament Question: Infrastructure Facilities in Food Processing Sector

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 931 ANSWERED ON 05TH FEBRUARY, 2026 INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES IN FOOD PROCESSING SECTOR

931. SHRI MALAIYARASAN D:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken by the Government to improve infrastructure facilities such as cold storage, integrated supply chains, and food processing units across the country, particularly in Tamil Nadu including Kallakurichi constituency, along with the number of sanctioned, ongoing and completed projects under major schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, Mega Food Parks and Cold Chain components;

(b) the initiatives undertaken by the Government to promote diversification within the food processing sector, including the encouragement of indigenous, traditional, and region- specific food products, with particular reference of Tamil Nadu’s agro-climatic potential;

(c) whether the Government proposes any specific plans to enhance the competitiveness of Indian food products in international markets and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to strengthen export-oriented infrastructure, quality testing facilities and logistics; and

(d) whether any such initiatives are proposed for Tamil Nadu and the Kallakurichi region and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

(a): Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing Central Sector Umbrella Scheme “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojna (PMKSY)” to create post-harvest infrastructure and processing facilities to boost the overall development of the food processing sector and reduction in post-harvest losses all over the country including Kallakurichi constituency in Tamil Nadu. The component schemes under PMKSY provide financial assistance in the form of grants-in-aid/subsidy to eligible organisation/entities for setting up of food processing and preservation infrastructure including creation of modern infrastructure with integrated supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet, which inter-alia, includes cold storages for captive use to minimize post-harvest losses.

As on 31.12.2025, 1607 number of projects have been approved under various component schemes of PMKSY. Out of which, 1196 projects have been completed/operationalised and remaining 411 projects are at various stages of implementation,

details of which are as under:No of projects sanctioned, completed and on-going under PMKSY component schemes Sr.No. Component Scheme Name Approve Complet On- d ed going 1 Scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro 66 23 43 Processing Clusters 2 Scheme for Creation/Expansion of Food 509 349 160 Processing & Preservation Capacities 3 Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value 402 301 101 Addition Infrastructure 4 Scheme for Food Safety and Quality Assurance 205 173 32 infrastructure 5 Operation Greens 41 20 21 6 Human Resource and Institution – Research & 257 227 30 Development 7 Scheme for Creation of Backward & Forward 60 53 7 Linkages (discontinued w.e.f 01.04.2021) 8 Mega Food Park (discontinued w.e.f 01.04.2021) 41 25 16 9 Human Resource and Institution – Skill 26 25 1 Development (discontinued w.e.f 01.04.2021) Total 1607 1196 411 In the state of Tamil Nadu, 155 projects have been approved under PMKSY. Out of which, 113 projects have been completed/operationalised and remaining 42 projects are at various stages of implementation.

(b): PMKSY is a central sector demand driven scheme and applications are invited through Expression of Interest (EoI) from all over India including Tamil Nadu. The funds are not allocated/sanctioned/released State-wise under any of the component schemes of PMKSY.

Merit based approvals are given to the eligible proposals based on availability of funds.

Through these projects, PMKSY promotes product diversification, reduction in post-harvest losses, enhancement of value addition for food products including indigenous, traditional and region-specific food products in the country including Tamil Nadu.

Further, MOFPI is implementing a centrally sponsored PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme to provide financial, technical and business support for setting up/upgradation of 2 lakh micro food processing enterprises in 36 States/Union Territories (UTs) of the country. The Scheme adopts One District One Product (ODOP) approach to reap the benefit of scale in procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of local and indigenous food products. The ODOPs are either perishable agri produce, cereal-based products or food products widely produced in a district and their allied sectors.

The list of ODOPs in Tamil Nadu selected for assistance under PMFME is placed at Annexure.

(c) and (d): The Government has undertaken several initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of Indian food products in international markets. Under PMKSY, financial assistance is

provided to eligible organisations/entities from all over the country including Kallakurichi constituency in Tamil Nadu, for setting up and upgradation of food processing projectsincluding export-oriented food processing units, Integrated Cold Chain and value addition Infrastructure, Food Testing Laboratories related infrastructure and Research & Development projects which help in the improvement of shelf life and quality of food products for export.

The Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI) component of PMKSY supports establishment and upgradation of food testing laboratories to ensure compliance with domestic and international food safety and quality standards and thereby help the exporters in meeting quality parameters of importing countries.

Further, MOFPI is implementing a Central Sector “Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI). Under the Branding and Marketing component of this scheme, Ministry provides financial incentives (50% of expenditure incurred on Branding & Marketing abroad subject to a maximum of 3% of Sales of food products or Rs 50 crore per year, whichever is less) to promote Indian food brands abroad, supporting branding and marketing activities for Indian-branded consumer food products in global markets.

*****ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 931 ON THE SUBJECT INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES IN FOOD PROCESSING SECTOR DUE FOR ANSWER ON 05.02.2026 The ODOPs in Tamil Nadu selected for assistance under PMFME Sl. No. District ODOP 1 Ariyalur Cashew based Products 2 Chengalpattu Fishery Products 3 Chennai Bakery Products 4 Coimbatore Coconut Products 5 Cuddalore Cashew based Products 6 Dharmapuri Millet Products 7 Dindigul Animal feed 8 Erode Turmeric based products 9 Kallakurichi Edible Oils (Groundnut) based Products 10 Kancheepuram Edible Oils (Groundnut) based Products 11 Kanyakumari Fishery Products 12 Karur Moringa Products 13 Krishnagiri Mango Products 14 Madurai Dhal Products 15 Nagappattinam Fishery Products 16 Namakkal Poultry Feeds products 17 Perambalur Animal Feed 18 Pudukkottai Groundnut based products 19 Ramanathapuram Fishery Products 20 Ranipet Edible Oils (Groundnut) 21 Salem Tapioca Products 22 Sivagangai Coconut Products 23 Tenkasi Lemon based Products 24 Thanjavur Coconut Products 25 The Nilgiris Vegetable based Products 26 Theni Banana based products 27 Thiruvallur Dhal Products 28 Thoothukudi Palm Products 29 Tirunelveli Banana based Products 30 Tiruppathur Groundnut based Products 31 Tiruppur Poultry Feed Products 32 Tiruvannamalai Groundnut based products 33 Tiruvarur Dhal Products 34 Trichy Banana based products 35 Vellore Milk based Products 36 Villupuram Edible Oils (Groundnut) based Products 37 Virudhunagar Millet Products TOTAL 37