Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) addresses a query regarding special grants for food processing units in Amritsar, acknowledging the region's reliance on agriculture and limited industrial opportunities. The response outlines existing central schemes like PMKSY and PMFME that support food processing infrastructure and enterprise development across the country, including Amritsar. It also provides export data from Amritsar's air cargo complex and clarifies the discontinuation of the Mega Food Parks Scheme from April 1, 2021.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Government Awareness and Response:**
* Acknowledges limited income sources and declining interest in farming among younger generations in Amritsar's border villages.
* The government incentivizes the development of food processing industries through central sector schemes.
* **Central Sector Schemes:**
* Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) and Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) incentivize the setup and expansion of food processing infrastructure.
* PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) provides financial, technical, and business support to micro food processing enterprises.
* Three food processing projects under PMKSY have been approved in Amritsar with a total project cost of Rs 51.63 crores and an approved grant-in-aid of Rs 12.17 crores.
* Under the PMFME scheme, 34 proposals have been sanctioned with a total subsidy of Rs 2.24 crores in Amritsar.
* **Export Support:**
* Processed food products are currently being exported from Amritsar's international airport and cargo terminal.
* Export data for agriculture processed food products from Amritsar's Air Cargo Complex is provided for the years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25, including processed vegetables, fresh mangoes, and other fresh vegetables.
* **Mega Food Parks Scheme:**
* The Mega Food Parks Scheme has been discontinued with effect from April 1, 2021.
* **Overall Impact:**
* Schemes aim to create modern infrastructure, improve supply chain management, provide better returns to farmers, create employment opportunities, increase processing levels, and enhance exports to boost the rural economy.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers in Amritsar District:
* Impact: Potentially benefit from increased income and employment opportunities through food processing industries supported by government schemes.
* Action Required: Can apply for financial, technical, and business support under the PMFME scheme to set up or upgrade micro food processing enterprises.
Youth in Amritsar District:
* Impact: Potential for increased employment opportunities in the food processing sector, addressing the lack of industrial opportunities.
* Action Required: Explore employment and entrepreneurial opportunities within the food processing industry, utilizing the support provided by government schemes.
Food Processing Enterprises in Amritsar District:
* Impact: Opportunity to expand or establish businesses with financial assistance and infrastructural support from PMKSY and PMFME.
* Action Required: Apply for grants and subsidies under PMKSY and PMFME to establish or expand food processing units.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Food Processing Industries: The Indian governmental ministry responsible for food processing industries.
SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA: Member of Parliament who raised the question in Lok Sabha.
Amritsar, Punjab: A district and city in the state of Punjab, India, the focus of the special grant for food processing units.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY): A Central Sector Scheme by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries to incentivize setting up/expansion of food processing infrastructure.
Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI): A Central Sector Scheme by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries to incentivize food processing.
PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME): A Centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries for micro food processing enterprises.
Air Cargo Complex Amritsar: International airport and cargo terminal in Amritsar used for the export of processed goods.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1854
ANSWERED ON 31ST JULY, 2025
SPECIAL GRANT FOR SETTING UP OF FOOD PROCESSING UNITS IN
AMRITSAR
1854. SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA:
Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the people living in the border villages of
Amritsar rely almost entirely on agriculture with limited income sources and the younger
generation is losing interest in farming due to lack of industrial opportunities and if so, the
details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is considering to provide a special grant or package for setting
up of food processing units, cold chains and value-addition infrastructure in the border belt of
Amritsar to boost agro-industrial employment and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether international airport and cargo terminal at Amritsar is likely to be integrated to
support the export of processed goods from this region and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government proposes to prioritize Amritsar under central schemes like
PMFME, Mega Food Parks or introduce a border-specific food export cluster to boost the rural
economy and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to create opportunities for youth of Border belt as
the career sources are very less for them and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)
(a) & (b): In order to boost and ensure overall development of Food Processing Industries
including agro 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
Amritsar district of Punjab and thereby creating off-farm employment opportunities &
increasing the income of the farmers in Food Processing Sector.
Under PMKSY, MoFPI has approved three food processing projects with total project
cost of Rs 51.63 crores and approved grant-in-aid of Rs 12.17 crores in Amritsar district of
Punjab.
Under PMFME Scheme, MoFPI has sanctioned 34 proposals with a total subsidy of Rs
2.24 crores in Amritsar district of Punjab.
(c): The processed food products are being exported from Amritsar’s international airport and
cargo terminal (Air Cargo Complex). The details of the food products exported from Amritsar’s
international airport and cargo terminal (Air Cargo Complex) are at Annexure.(d) & (e): As mentioned earlier, MoFPI is implementing PMFME scheme for providing
financial, technical and business support for upgradation/ setting up of micro food processing
enterprises including Amritsar district of Punjab. Further, the Mega Food Parks Scheme, has
been discontinued with effect from 01.04.2021.
The schemes implemented by MoFPI aim towards creation of modern infrastructure
with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet which includes storage,
transportation, etc., thereby help in providing better returns to farmers and creating huge
employment opportunities especially in the rural areas, increasing the processing level,
enhancing the export of the processed foods, which boosts rural economy and contribute in
inclusive growth.
*****Annexure
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF THE LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1854 FOR ANSWER ON 31ST JULY, 2025
REGARDING “SPECIAL GRANT FOR SETTING UP OF FOOD PROCESSING
UNITS IN AMRITSAR”
Export of Agriculture & Processed Food Products from (Air Cargo Complex) Amritsar
Value In USD Quantity In Kg
Products
2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Processed Vegetables 2,90,995 10,40,923 5,24,406 2,740 8,072 7,140
Fresh Mangoes 2,25,050 0 3,30,341 69,953 0 1,40,913
Other Fresh Vegetables 5,76,344 1,13,462 1,50,263 2,03,335 74,008 81,687
Miscellaneous Preparations 0 20,620 34,529 0 1,945 7,225
Herbal And Medicinal Plants 0 0 27,388 0 0 2,875
Basmati Rice 611 52 9,993 550 40 8,000
Other Fresh Fruits 49 136 9,927 51 150 8,893
Fruits & Vegetables Seeds 0 0 2,442 0 0 150
Cereal Preparations 0 0 160 0 0 36
Pulses 0 306 0 0 525 0
Dairy Products 0 375 0 0 140 0
Jaggery & Confectionery 856 3,525 0 414 604 0
Others (Betel Leaves & Nuts) 0 14,192 0 0 4,600 0
Total 10,93,905 11,93,591 10,89,449 2,77,043 90,084 2,56,919
Source: Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics
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