Food Processing Sector is gaining considerable importance with respect to its positive impact on agriculture. It is estimated that Food Processing contributes to over 28% of the share of the Agriculture GDP. Food Processing Sector is a sunrise sector which has a huge untapped potential for employment generation, reduction of wastage, improving value addition, earning foreign exchange, enhancing farmer incomes, and increasing manufacturing competitiveness. Therefore the Ministry has devised a number of Plan Schemes to facilitate overall growth and development of the food processing sector.
The ongoing schemes under 12th Five-Year-Plan are as given below:
[A] Scheme for technology up-gradation/modernization/expansion of food processing industries:
The objective of the scheme is to promote food processing sector by encouraging more and more food processing units to come up. This is expected to increase the level of processing, value addition, reduce the wastage, enhance the income of farmers and boost exports. The important highlights of the scheme are:
- Assistance to the extent of 25% of cost of plant and machinery and technical civil works (parts of building used for actual production).
- Maximum Limit ₹ 50.00 lakhs.
- Govt. and Private sector can apply.
- Grant-in-aid released as two installments.
- Sanction of Term Loan for the project to the extent of at least 10% of project cost.
[B] Scheme for Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure for Non-Horticulture Products:
The objective of the scheme is to provide integrated and complete cold chain and preservation infrastructure facilities from the farm gate to the consumer as well as from the production site to the market. The important highlights of the scheme are:
- Assistance to the extent of 35% of the bank appraised project cost including interest subsidy.
- Maximum limit ₹ 5.00 crores.
- Under the total grant-in-aid, the interest subsidy component will be @ 6% against term loan for a period of 5 years subject to a maximum limit of ₹ 2 crores or actual interest accrued on term loan whichever is less.
- Scheme includes 4 components namely (a) minimum processing center at farm level, (b) mobile pre-cooling and reefer vehicles, (c) distribution hubs i.e. cold storage/packing/freezing facilities and (d) irradiation facilities. Proposals should include at least 2 components under (a), (b) and (c). Component (d) can be a stand alone proposal.
- Govt. and Private sector can apply.
- Grant-in-aid released as three installments.
[C] Scheme for Human Resource Development:
(i) Creation of Infrastructure for running Diploma/Degree courses in food processing technology:
The objective of the scheme is to provide trained manpower including entrepreneurs, managers, technologists, skilled workers for the food processing industry. The important highlights of the scheme are:
- Assistance o the extent of maximum ₹ 100 lakhs for pilot plant, laboratory equipments and library books and publications.
- The beneficiary’s share of expenditure would be in the form of land, building, manpower and other recurring costs.
- Recognized Universities/Institutions/Colleges in Govt. sector and private sector can apply.
- Grant-in-aid released as two installments.
(ii) Entrepreneurship Development Program:
The objective of the scheme is to train prospective entrepreneurs/unemployed youth, and encourage them to establish food processing units. The important highlights of the scheme are:
- Assistance to the extent of ₹ 3.00 lakhs per EDP.
- Each EDP is a 4 week program accompanied with a one year follow up involving at least 25 to 35 participants.
- Govt. sector bodies, reputed institutes/state level consultancy organizations and reputed NGOs can apply.
- Grant-in-aid released as three installments.
(iii) Food Processing Training Center:
The objective of the scheme is to promote processing of locally grown raw material by providing training and hands on experience so as to facilitate the development of rural entrepreneurship. The important highlights of the scheme are:
- Single Product Line: Assistance to the extent of ₹ 6.00 lakhs for fixed capital costs (P&M) and ₹ 3.00 lakhs as revolving seed capital (raw materials, consumables etc).
- Multi Product Line: Assistance to the extent of ₹ 15.00 lakhs for fixed capital costs (P&M) and ₹ 5.00 lakhs as revolving seed capital.
- Training to be imparted to at least 50 trainees/year with minimum two batches. At least 35% of trainees to belong to SC/ST/OBC/women/minorities.
- Govt. sector bodies, educational and training institutions and NGOs/Self Help Groups can apply.
- Grant-in-aid released as two installments.
(iv) Training at recognized institutes such as CFTRI/DFRL/IICPT/NIFTEM or any other State/National level training institute of GOI/State Govt.
The objective of the scheme is to impart specialized training to EDP trainees who are in advanced stage of setting up projects and also to upgrade the skill level of entrepreneurs who are already running food processing enterprises. The important highlights of the scheme are:
- Assistance to the extent of ₹ 1,00,000.00 for a training program for at least 20 trainees for a period of 10 working days OR a maximum of ₹ 5,000.00 per trainee.
- State or National level recognized training institutions can apply.
- Grant-in-aid released as two installments.