Parliament Question: Sea Buckthorn Processing Unit at Chushot and Leh

**Executive Summary** The document addresses Unstarred Question No. 109 in Lok Sabha concerning the Sea Buckthorn Processing Unit at Chushot, Leh and the Apricot Processing Unit at Chanigound, Kargil. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries provides details on the approval and funding of these units as Incubation Centres under the PMFME scheme. The proposals were approved in March 2024 and are supported through a grant of ₹5.50 crore. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Project Overview:** * The Sea Buckthorn Processing Unit at Chushot, Leh and the Apricot Processing Unit at Chanigound, Kargil have been approved as Incubation Centres under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme. * **Financial Support:** * The projects are supported by 100% Central Government Grant-in-Aid (GIA) with a total grant of ₹5.50 crore. * **Implementation:** * The Union Territory Administration of Ladakh is responsible for implementing the two Incubation Centres. * **Mentor Institute:** * The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) has been designated as the Mentor Institute. * Following a site assessment, the Mentor Institute deemed the initial facility unsuitable. * **Current Status:** * The Union Territory Administration of Ladakh has identified an alternative location and submitted a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Public Works Department. * The government is regularly reviewing the implementation with the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh. * **Incubation Centre Benefits:** * Support is provided to micro-entrepreneurs, Self Help Groups (SHGs), and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with access to food processing infrastructure without capital investment. * Each centre will have 3-5 processing lines for ODOP and allied products, operating on a custom hiring basis. * The centres aim to address critical infrastructure gaps for value addition and reduce post-harvest losses. They will also generate employment and promote entrepreneurship. **Impact Analysis** **Union Territory Administration of Ladakh** * **Impact:** Responsible for implementing the Incubation Centres and has identified an alternative location after the initial site was found unsuitable. * **Action Required:** Continue to work with the Public Works Department to advance the revised Detailed Project Report and oversee project execution. **Micro-entrepreneurs, Self Help Groups (SHGs), and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in Ladakh** * **Impact:** Provided with access to food processing infrastructure without capital investment. * **Action Required:** Utilize the facilities and support offered by the Incubation Centres to enhance value addition, reduce losses, and promote entrepreneurship. **Local Farmers, Women Self-Help Groups and Youth-led Enterprises in Ladakh** * **Impact:** Will have access to processing facilities to enable value addition, reduce losses, and generate sustainable income through training and mentoring programs. * **Action Required:** Participate in training and mentoring programs. **Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT)** * **Impact:** Designated as Mentor Institute, conducted site assessment. * **Action Required:** Continue to provide mentorship to these projects.

Key Entities Referenced