Parliament Question: Setting up of Date, Palm and Dry Horticulture Processing Units

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1935 ANSWERED ON 11TH DECEMBER, 2025 SETTING UP OF DATE, PALM AND DRY HORTICULTURE PROCESSING UNITS 1935. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL: Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is promoting Date, Palm and Dry Horticulture processing units in Western India; (b) if so, the details of steps taken by the Government in this regard so far including the details of schemes implemented, financial assistance provided and the States/districts in which processing units have been set up/approved in Western India; (c) whether the Government proposes to implement or launch any scheme to provide cashew saplings to farmers and promote cashew based horticulture and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether similar initiatives are being taken by the Government to promote similar Date, Palm and Dry Horticulture processing units in other drought-affected areas of the country especially in Rajasthan, Vidarbha, Kutch, Saurashtra and Marathwada; and (e) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH) (a) & (b): In order to promote and ensure overall development of food processing sector including processing of date, palm and horticulture based 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). Further, a Centrally sponsored PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme is also being implemented by MoFPI. All these three schemes are implemented across the country including Western India. The number of projects approved under these schemes in Western India, since inception of the schemes, are as under- S. No. of No. of approved No. of approved approved Micro Food applications at No. State/UT projects under Processing different locations PMKSY Enterprises under under PLISFPI PMFME 1. Dadar & Nagar 1 0 Haveli and 12 Daman & Diu 2. Goa 2 137 13. Gujarat 109 1010 32 4. Maharashtra 244 26172 41 5. Rajasthan 55 1351 6 (c): As per the information provided by Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development, under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the said Directorate is implementing development schemes under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) to promote cashew cultivation in the country. The details of programmes being implemented by said Directorate is given at Annexure. (d) & (e): Ministry of Food Processing Industries extends financial support to prospective entrepreneurs for setting up of different kinds of food processing industries including processing of Date, Palm and horticulture based industries, as per respective scheme guidelines across the country including Vidarbha & Marathwada regions of Maharashtra and Kutch & Saurashtra regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Further, one processing unit has been established at Date Palm Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agriculture University, Mundra- Kutch (Gujarat) as a Research initiative for the processing of Date with financial assistance of Rs. 74 lakh under Pradhan Mantri – Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. *****ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1935 FOR ANSWER ON 11TH DECEMBER, 2025 REGARDING “SETTING UP OF DATE, PALM AND DRY HORTICULTURE PROCESSING UNITS” Cashew development schemes of Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa development under MIDH Sl Scheme Objective No 1. Establishment of new plantation of The development of new plantations with clones of cashew without integration with high yielding varieties of cashew in the farmer’s field drip has been envisaged under this programme. 2. The development of new high density plantations with Establishment of cashew high high yielding varieties of cashew in the farmer’s field density plantation has been envisaged under this programme. 3. Replantation of senile cashew plantation- i. Removal of senile To increase the production and productivity of the plantations, ii. planting with high senile plantations owned by the corporation in various yielding varieties and iii. Cost of states by removing the senile plantations and replanted input towards INM/IPM and with high yielding varieties of cashew. Irrigation 4. Establishment of demonstration To demonstrate the high-density planting technology plots with high density planting of cashew with high yielding varieties in farmer’s with drip Irrigation field/public farms with drip irrigation in a compact area of one ha. 5. Establishment of demonstration To demonstrate the high-density planting technology plots with high density planting of cashew with high yielding varieties in farmer’s without drip irrigation field. 6. Establishment of demonstration To demonstrate the latest high yielding varieties in plots with high yielding variety in farmer’s field/ public farms with drip irrigation. normal density with drip Irrigation 7. Varietal demonstration with normal To demonstrate the latest high yielding varieties in density without drip farmer’s field/ public farms. 8. Promotion of Integrated Nutrient To improve the production and productivity of cashew Management/ Integrated Pest and cocoa plantations by promoting INM/IPM Management practices 9. Establishment small cashew/cocoa Production and distribution of good quality planting nurseries material to meet the requirement of high yielding varieties for new planting and replanting of cashew in the country by establishing new nurseries 10. Upgradation/ modernization of To upgrade the infrastructure facilities of existing existing nurseries (Nos) cashew/cocoa nurseries for ensuring the quality andquantity of the planting materials, thereto meet the accreditation norms. 11. Up-gradation of cashew nursery by To upgrade the nursery infrastructure by establishing establishing cashew mother block mother block with high yielding varieties with drip with drip irrigation and fertigation irrigation and fertigation unit in research facility stations/SAU’s/ICAR institutes/existing cashew nurseries. 12. District level seminar To give intensive publicity measures for promotion of cashew by dissemination of latest production technologies to the farming community and other target groups coming under the fold of cultivation, processing, marketing and export by organizing district level seminar in various states. 13. Cashew fair/day To make aware the farmers/ public the importance, scope, latest technologies of cashew cultivation and to make it profitable enterprise by organizing mela/field day in different district/States 14. Cashew apple utilization training To popularize the usage of cashew apple by giving for unemployed women farmers training on preparation of cashew apple products to the and young farmers unemployed women farmers and young farmers in association with research institutions. 15. Farmers training on cashew Provides appropriate seasonal training to the farmers production technologies in various aspects of cashew and cocoa farming consisting of production technology, varieties, high density planting, organic cultivation, INM/IPM etc. 16. Exposure visit- outside the state To expose tribal and other farmers from cashew growing districts of the States to the traditional growing districts of other States for familiarizing production and management practices being followed in the other states. 17. Exposure visit- within the state To expose cashew growing districts of the States to the traditional growing districts within the states for familiarizing production and management practices. 18. Establishment of primary/minimal To establish primary/minimal processing unit of processing unit of cashew cashew. *****