Parliament Question: Setting up of Food Processing and Value Addition Units in West Khasi Hills

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2177 ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026 SETTING UP OF FOOD PROCESSING AND VALUE ADDITION UNITS IN WEST KHASI HILLS

2177. DR. RICKY ANDREW J SYNGKON:

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

(a) whether the Government proposes to set up food processing and value-addition units in hill districts such as Ri-Bhoi and West Khasi Hills known for pineapple, turmeric and black pepper cultivation and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of projects approved under PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) in these areas during the last five years; and

(c) whether any steps have been taken/being taken by the Government to provide cold storage, packaging and market linkages for perishable produce from remote hill villages and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

(a) to (c): The Ministry of Food Processing industries (MoFPI) does not setup any food processing industries on its own. However, it incentivizes setting up of such industries through its Central Sector Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) Scheme, Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and a Centrally sponsored Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme across the country including Ri-Bhoi and West Khasi Hills districts of Meghalaya and thereby helps in increasing value addition of food products. These schemes are not region or state specific but demand driven.

Under PMFME, loans for 2 micro food processing enterprises have been sanctioned in Pineapple processing and 1 loan has been sanctioned in Spice processing during the last five years in Ri Bhoi district. Similarly, loans for 8 micro food processing enterprises have been sanctioned in Fruit based products including Pineapple during the last five years in West Khasi Hills district.

Under PMKSY, Total 2 food processing projects have been approved in Ri Bhoi district, out of which one project with project cost of Rs. 9.92 crore and grants in aid of Rs.

4.61 crore has been sanctioned during last five years.MoFPI provides financial assistance to eligible entrepreneurs for establishing food processing industry including perishable food products, through its three schemes as per related scheme guidelines across the country including remote hilly areas of Meghalaya. These schemes aim towards creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet which includes storage, transportation, creation of market linkages etc., thereby help in providing better returns to farmers and increasing the processing level, reducing wastage of agricultural produce and creating off-farm employment opportunities.

Under Branding and Marketing component of the PMFME scheme, support is provided to Farmer Producer Organisations /Self Help Groups/Cooperatives or an Special Purpose Vehicle of micro food processing enterprises for developing a common packaging & branding with provision for quality control, standardization, and adhering to food safety parameters for consumer retail sale.

MoFPI, under its schemes, does not provide financial assistance for establishment of standalone cold storages facilities. However, it incentivizes creation of cold storage infrastructure as part of food processing projects under relevant component schemes of PMKSY.

Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) under which capital assistance is provided for various horticulture activities including Construction/Expansion/Modernization of cold storages of capacity up to 5000 MT in the country on the basis of Annual Action Plan (AAP) received from States/UTs.

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