Republic of India - Food Processing Industries

[Hindustani78]

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
03-May, 2017 20:30 IST
Cabinet approves New Central Sector Scheme – SAMPADA (Scheme For Agro-Marine Processing And Development Of Agro-Processing Clusters)

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for re-structuring the schemes of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) under new Central Sector Scheme – SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) for the period 2016-20 coterminous with the 14th Finance Commission cycle.


SAMPADA with an allocation of Rs. 6,000 crore is expected to leverage investment of Rs. 31,400 crore, handling of 334 lakh MT agro-produce valuing Rs. 1,04,125 crore, benefit 20 lakh farmers and generate 5,30,500 direct/ indirect employment in the country by the year 2019-20.


The objective of SAMPADA is to supplement agriculture, modernize processing and decrease agri-waste.


SAMPADA is an umbrella scheme incorporating ongoing schemes of the Ministry like Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure, etc. and also new schemes like Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages, Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities.


The SAMPADA is a comprehensive package to give a renewed thrust to the food processing sector in the country. It includes new schemes of Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages and Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities aim at development of modern infrastructure to encourage entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on cluster approach, provide effective and seamless backward and forward integration for processed food industry by plugging gaps in supply chain and creation of processing and preservation capacities and modernization/ expansion of existing food processing units.


The implementation of SAMPADA will result in creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet. It will not only provide a big boost to the growth of food processing sector in the country but also help in providing better prices to farmers and is a big step towards doubling of farmers’ income. It will create huge employment opportunities especially in the rural areas. It will also help in reducing wastage of agricultural produce, increasing the processing level, availability of safe and convenient processed foods at affordable price to consumers and enhancing the export of the processed foods.


Background:


Food Processing Sector has emerged as an important segment of the Indian economy in terms of its contribution to GDP, employment and investment. During 2015-16, the sector constituted as much as 9.1 and 8.6 per cent of GVA in Manufacturing and Agriculture sector respectively.


The manifesto of NDA Government stresses upon incentivizing the setting up of food processing industry for providing better income for the farmers and creating jobs.


Various measures have been taken by the government to give a boost to the food processing sector. With these measures food processing sector has grown at 7 per cent. In order to arrest post-harvest losses of horticulture & non-horticulture produce, the Ministry has accorded approval to 42 Mega Food Parks and 236 Integrated Cold Chains for creation of modern infrastructure for the food processing along the value chain from the farm to the market. Out of 42 Mega Food Parks, 8 are operational. Of this, 6 Mega Food Parks have been made operational during the last 3 years. Another 4 Mega Food Parks are targeted for operationalization in next three months. Similarly, out of 236 Cold Chains, 101 Cold Chains have been sanctioned recently in March, 2017. 100 Cold Chains have become operational. Of which, 63 Cold Chains have been made operational during last 3 years.


Government has taken various other measures to boost food processing sector as follows:


(a) To provide impetus to investment in food processing and retail sector, govt. has allowed 100% FDI in trading including through e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured and / or produced in India. This will benefit farmers immensely and will create back – end infrastructure and significant employment opportunities.

(b) The govt. has also set up a Special Fund of Rs. 2000 crore in NABARD to make available affordable credit at concessional rate of interest to designated food parks and agro processing units in the designated food parks.

(c) Food and agro–based processing units and cold chain infrastructure have been brought under the ambit of Priority Sector Lending (PSL) to provide additional credit for food processing activities and infrastructure thereby, boosting food processing, reducing wastage, create employment and increasing farmers’ income.

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[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...-food-processing-industry/article18382490.ece

Ask U.S. firms to take advantage of its liberalised foreign investment rules and ready-made infrastructure.
Pitching for foreign direct investment in the food-processing sector, India has asked the U.S. companies to take advantage of its liberalised foreign investment rules, ready made infrastructure and improving business environment.

A high-powered team of Indian officials led by Jagdish Prasad Meena, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries on Wednesday started their two-day trip to Midwest from Chicago holding meetings with high-level officials from several Chicagoland food services, logistics and restaurant companies.

During the meeting, Mr. Meena urged them to take advantage of India’s liberalised foreign investment rules, readymade infrastructure and improving ease-of-doing-business climate, the Indian Consulate in Chicago said in a statement.

Chicago for food
Given its size and location in the Midwest, Chicago has been the hub of the U.S. food and food processing industry and is home to many of the world’s leading food and agriculture companies.

During his trip here, Mr. Meena is scheduled to meet with Potbelly, headquartered in downtown Chicago, and Mondelez, which has a bakery in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood.

Meetings are also scheduled with Sensient, Griffith Foods, and Ingredion among others.

The first of its kind visit of U.S. officials comes as the Narendra Modi government has significantly liberalised FDI regulations, and has allowed 100 per cent FDI in manufacturing of food products and 100 per cent FDI in trading including e-commerce in food products manufactured and produced in India.

India has undertaken several national and state-level programmes to improve the nation’s standing in the World Bank’s annual Ease of Doing Business Index, the Consulate has said.

India’s food processing industry is experiencing significant growth and boasts existing infrastructure in new Mega Food Parks around the country as well as state-of-the-art Cold Chain facilities, it has said.

World Food India 2017
From November 3 to 5, New Delhi will host the World Food India 2017, a first-of-its-kind mega-scale event showcasing the large agricultural or horticultural produce base of India and its huge young population, providing a ready market providing immense investment opportunities for the entire food processing and food retail sector.

Leading U.S. companies are invited to learn about India’s proactive policies and profitable opportunities available across the entire food-processing and food retail value chain.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Food Processing Industries
01-June, 2017 14:51 IST
Inauguration of MITS Mega Food Park at Rayagada, Odisha.

The first Mega Food Park in the state of Odisha M/s MITS Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd. at Rayagada has been inaugurated today the 1st June, 2017 by Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Hon’ble Minister of Food Processing Industries. This is the 7th Mega Food Park operationalized in the last 3 years by the present government.

On this occasion Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble MoS (I/C) of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Hon'ble MoS (Food Processing Industries), Government of India, were also present.

Speaking on the occasion Hon’ble Minister said that under the Visionary guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Ministry of Food Processing Industries is focusing on boosting the food processing industry so that agriculture sector grows exponentially and become a major contributor to doubling the farmer’s income and ‘Make In India’ initiative of the government.

To give a major boost to the food processing sector by adding value and reducing food wastage at each stage of the supply chain with particular focus on perishables, Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing Mega Food Park Scheme in the country. Mega Food Parks create modern infrastructure facilities for food processing along the value chain from farm to market with strong forward and backward linkages through a cluster based approach. Common facilities and enabling infrastructure is created at Central Processing Centre and facilities for primary processing and storage is created near the farm in the form of Primary Processing Centers (PPCs) and Collection Centers (CCs).Under the Scheme, Government of India provides financial assistance upto Rs. 50.00 Crore per Mega Food Park project.

Speaking on the occasion Smt. Badal said that the Mega Food Park has been set up in 50.05 acre of land at the cost of Rs. 80.17crore. Government of India has provided a financial assistance of Rs. 50.00 Crore to the project. The food park is having facilities of fully operational industrial sheds for SMEs, developed industrial plots for lease to food processing units, Rice Processing Complex of 12 TPH, Dry Ware-House of 10,000 MT, Cold Store of 2500 MT, Multi Fruit Processing facility and other food processing facilities etc. The Park also has a common administrative building for office and other uses by the entrepreneurs and 6 Primary Processing Centres (PPCs) at Kashipur, Padampur, Umerkote, Koraput, Digapahandi and Khordha having facilities for primary processing and storage near the farms.

Hon’ble Minister for food Processing Industries said that the modern infrastructure for food processing created at MITS Mega Food Park will benefit the farmers, growers, processors and consumers of Odisha and prove to be a big boost to the growth of the food processing sector in the state of Odisha. The Mega Food Park will benefit not only the people of Rayagada but also the people of adjoining districts of Nabarangpura, Ganjam and Khordha.

Smt. Badal further said that the Mega Food Park will leverage an additional investment of about Rs. 250 crore in 25-30 food processing units in the park and generate a turnover of about Rs. 450-500 Crore annually. The Park will also provide direct and indirect employment to 5000 people and benefit about 25000 farmers in the CPC and PPC catchment areas.

Smt. Badal also said that the present government is fully committed to providing an environment that is smooth, transparent and easy for investors wanting to start an enterprise in India and in a bid to make India a resilient food economy and the Food Factory of the World the government has made Food Processing a major thrust area of ‘Make in India’. Hon’ble Minister also highlighted the newly approved SAMPADA Scheme of the ministry and exhorted the farmers/ FPOs/ SHGs and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the scheme for fuelling growth of food processing sector in Odisha.

Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal congratulated the farmers who will be benefitted by this Mega Food Park and also by the huge employment opportunities that will be generated by the Mega Food Park for the people of this region.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Food Processing Industries
11-June, 2017 15:32 IST
Minister of Food Processing Industries Lays Foundation Stone for 2 Mega Food Parks being developed by KINFRA at Palakkad and KSIDC at Alappuzha in Kerala

Giving a big push to the infrastructure development for food processing in the state of Kerala, foundation stone of 2 Mega Food Parks one being developed by Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) at Palakkad and other by Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) at Alappuzha has been laid today the 11th June, 2017 in two separate ceremonies held at Palakkad and Alappuzha by Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of Food Processing Industries in the presence of Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Kerala. Both the Mega Food Parks have been sanctioned by the present government.

On both the occasions Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Shri A. C. Moideen, Minister of Industries, Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Kerala were present and Shri P. Thilothaman, Minister for Food & Civil Supplies, Government of Kerala was also present at the ceremony held at Alappuzha.

Speaking on the occasion Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that under the Visionary guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Ministry of Food Processing Industries is focusing on boosting the food processing industry so that agriculture sector grows exponentially and become a major contributor to doubling the farmer’s income and ‘Make In India’ initiative of the government.

To give a major boost to the food processing sector by adding value and reducing food wastage at each stage of the supply chain with particular focus on perishables, Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing Mega Food Park Scheme in the country. Mega Food Parks create modern infrastructure facilities for food processing along the value chain from farm to market with strong forward and backward linkages through a cluster based approach. Common facilities and enabling infrastructure is created at Central Processing Centre and facilities for primary processing and storage is created near the farm in the form of Primary Processing Centers (PPCs) and Collection Centers (CCs).Under the Scheme, Government of India provides financial assistance upto Rs. 50.00 Crore per Mega Food Park project.

Minister of Food Processing and Industries while laying the foundation stone of Mega Food Park of M/s Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) at Palakkad informed that the Mega Food Park is being set up in 78.68 acre of land at the cost of Rs. 119.02 crore. The facilities being created by the KINFRA at Central Processing Centre (CPC) of this Mega Food Park include Pack house (Sorting grading packing) of 10 MT/hr, Warehouse of 12000 MT, Silos of 6000 MT, Multi Product Cold Storage of 5000 MT, Spices & Condiments Processing including Mechanical Dryer of 15 T/day, Ripening Chamber of 120 MT, Cashew Roasting of 2MT/day and other food processing facilities. In addition 4 PPCs at Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Wayanad having facilities for primary processing and storage near the farms are also being set up.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion of foundation stone laying of 2nd Mega Food Park of M/s Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (KSIDC) at Alappuzha Minister of Food Processing Industries said that this Mega Food Park is being set up in 68.18 acre of land at the cost of Rs. 129.15 crore. The facilities being created by the KSIDC at Central Processing Centre (CPC) of this Mega Food Park include Cold Storage of 3000 MT, Deep Freeze Unit of 3000 MT, Deboning and Canning Unit of 50 tonnes/day, Warehouse of 1000 MT and other food processing facilities. 5 PPCs at Thoppumpady, Vypeen, Munambam, Aroor and Neendakara having facilities for primary processing and storage near the farms are also being set up.

Minister of Food Processing and Industries also informed that both the Parks also have common administrative building for office and other use by the entrepreneurs. Government of India is providing financial assistance of Rs. 50.00 Crore to each of the projects.

Minister for Food Processing Industries said that the modern infrastructure for food processing created at the Mega Food Parks will benefit the farmers, growers, processors and consumers of Kerala and prove to be a big boost to the growth of the food processing sector in the state of Kerala. The Mega Food Park will benefit not only the people of Palakkad and Alappuzha but also the people of their adjoining districts of Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kochi and Kollam.

Smt. Badal further said that each of the Mega Food Parks will leverage an additional investment of about Rs. 250 crore in 25-30 food processing units in the park and generate a turnover of about Rs. 450-500 Crore annually. Each of the Parks will also provide direct and indirect employment to 5000 people and benefit about 25000 farmers in the CPC and PPC catchment areas.

Smt. Badal also said that the present government is fully committed to providing an environment that is smooth, transparent and easy for investors wanting to start an enterprise in India and in a bid to make India a resilient food economy and Food Factory of the World. The government has made Food Processing a major thrust area of ‘Make in India’ initiative. Minister of Food Processing Industries also highlighted the newly approved SAMPADA Scheme of the ministry and exhorted the farmers / Farmer Producer Organizations / SHGs and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the scheme for fuelling growth of food processing sector in Kerala.

Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal thanked Chief Minister and the State Government for the support extended by them to the Mega Food Parks.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Food Processing Industries
13-June, 2017 17:28 IST
India to be Co-Partner Country in ANUGA 2017

“Food Diplomacy to bridge all Barriers”, Says Smt Badal

Minister of Food Processing Industries Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal today addressed a Joint Press Conference with the organizers of ANUGA - an international business platform for Food Industry to be held in Cologne, Germany. She also signed the Memorandum of Understanding for Participation in the ANUGA Exhibition with Ms Katharina C Hamma, Chief Operating Officer, Koelnmesse GmBH (Organizers of ANUGA).



Minister of Food Processing Industries said that it was an honour for India to be a co-partner country in such a prestigious international event. “It gives us the opportunity to showcase our strengths and opportunities to an international audience”. The Minister also said that Food Processing Sector has lots of challenges to deal with but due to the transformation happening in this sector in the last 3 years, the industry is ready to overcome the obstacles. Smt Badal said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, in the last 3 years, our Government has started nine Mega Food Parks; strengthening cold chain infrastructure; implementing Kisan-SAMPADA scheme with allocation of Rs 6000 crore; creation of corpus of Rs. 2000 Crore with NABARD for priority lending to the food processing industries; rationalising taxes; allowing 100% FDI in retail market for Food sector, etc. These steps will help the Government in achieving its vision of making India a Global Food Factory rather than being a market place only. “Brand India will be standing parallel with Brand ANUGA in Cologne, Germany”, said the Minister. Smt Badal said infact Germany could be invited to partner in World Food India to be organized shortly by the Government of India. The Minister recognised the importance for India to be showcasing its strength in Food Processing Industries by participating in various International Food Exhibitions like SIAL in France and ANUGA in Germany.


“Food diplomacy will bridge many differences and would transform the lives of farmers” reiterated Smt Badal. Development of Food Processing Industries will help in achieving the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. We need to upgrade our farming techniques and need investment not only in Food Processing but also in Farming technologies. We also need to learn from the west on how to control wastage at harvest and transportation level said the MInister.

Speaking on the occasion Ms Katharina C Hamma said that she is happy to announce India as a partner country to ANUGA 2017. While ANUGA 2015 had 135 Indian exhibitors, more than 200 Indian companies are expected to participate in ANUGA 2017 from October 7th to October 11th 2017 at Cologne. For ANUGA 2017 e- commerce in food industry will be focussed for the first time. Ms Hamma said India’s food industry is known for its efficiency and culinary competence. World is attracted to Indian cuisines and its diversity. India is a home to a diverse variety of spices, a large number of which are exported across the globe. Traditional Organic produce of North East India is held in high esteem. She congratulated Indian Government for taking new path breaking initiatives.


ANUGA Background:

● ANUGA - an acronym for Allgemeine Nahrungs Und Genußmittel Ausstellung ( General Food and Non essential Provisions Exhibition) is the world’s biggest and most important trade fair for Food and beverage trade. It takes place biennially (every 2 years). ANUGA 2017 is the 34th edition.

● ANUGA offers an extensive supporting programme with Lectures, Special exhibition and attractive industry events

● ANUGA is the leading export platform with 7,189 exhibitors from 109 countries with over 85% of Exhibitors from abroad.

● 1,60,000 decision makers from the retail and out-of-home market from 192 countries visited during last ANUGA. 66% of the industry visitors are foreigners





Quick facts regarding Indian Participation at ANUGA:

Year
No. of exhibitors from India
No. of visitors from India

2005
45
304

2013
126
529

2015
150
1,696

● Increase in participation in 2015 vis-a-vis 2013

● 19% in exhibitors and 220% in visitors from India

● Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Food Processing Industry are jointly sponsoring this Indian branding at ANUGA, 2017.

● More details are available at www.anuga.com


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SBS/AK

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/business/In...gri-exports/article18966824.ece?homepage=true

Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia said on Monday that while India has emerged as the seventh largest exporter of agri-products globally, opportunities in newer markets have to be searched for further growth.

Ms. Teaotia said Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) of the Ministry of Commerce in association with the concerned line Ministries is addressing issues relating to market access.

She said it is important to maintain traceability and accountability in value addition chain.

Goods exports during 2016-17 stood at $276.28 billion, out of which agri exports comprised of $33.38 billion representing 12.08% of the total exports, an official statement said.

Exports of food products monitored by APEDA during 2016-17 stood at $16.28 billion representing 48.77% of agri exports from the country. Vietnam, UAE, Saudi Arabia, USA, Iran, Iraq and Nepal are the major destinations for export of food products from India.

Ms. Teaotia also asked organic goods exporters to certify their products as it helps boost competitiveness in the global markets.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Food Processing Industries
06-July, 2017 12:00 IST
Ministry of Food Processing Industry establishes GST facilitation cell to guide industry about GST regime


The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has established a four member GST Facilitation Cell at its office to guide the industry about the new tax regime. The members of the GST Facilitation Cell can be accessed through Toll Free No 1800111175 or on #AskonGSTFPI. Further details can be accessed from http://www.mofpi.nic.in


The ministry has created a GST cell for the purpose of implementation and facilitating the rollout of GST with immediate effect. The GST facilitation cell will provide all possible support for the rollout of the levy to the major industry and business associations related to MoFPI. This cell will serve as the first point of contact to address any issue being faced by any sector related to the ministry. The GST cell will be equipped with the complete knowledge of the relevant GST Act, rules, rate structure etc.


The cell will be headed by Shri Bijaya Kumar Behera, Economic Advisor and Shri G Srinivasan, senior marketing officer, Shri S N Ahmed, Assistant Director, Shri Bikram Nath, Assistant Director as its Members.


The Ministry is in the process of organising several programmes for the industry to sensitise associates about GST, and has also planned to conduct seminars to disseminate information about the new tax regime.


Press Information Bureau has also created a special webpage on GST http://pib.nic.in/gst which will be a one stop platform for all information on the new tax regime. It contains press releases issued till date on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in both Hindi and English languages. The webpage also contains various presentations, FAQs etc on GST.


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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Food Processing Industries
07-July, 2017 16:31 IST
Minister of Food Processing Industry laid foundation stone for First Maize Based Mega Food Park in Kapurthala, Punjab

Shri Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister of Food Processing Industry laid the foundation stone for First Maize based Mega Food Park in Kapurthala, Punjab today. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Minister of State for Food Processing was also present on the occasion.


Speaking on the occasion Shri Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that Maize is an amazing cereal and is an alternate to Jhona (paddy) and Kanak (wheat). Maize is rich in protein, provides nutritional requirements that India needs and Maize consumes much lesser water and could contain the problem of further water depletion. The Mega Food Park is being developed by Sukhjit Mega Food park & Infra Limited at village Rehana Jattan, Phagwara, District Kapurthala, Punjab. She also said that Kapurthala has been declared as a Dark Zone district where slow desertification is happening because of overexploitation of water due to cash crops. So establishment of this Mega Food Park was not allowed. Since this would be a maize based Mega Food Park which will promote crop diversification and water conservation, Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal informed that her ministry made special efforts to get this Mega Food Park approved from Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. Establishment of this Mega Food Park will result in the development of this Dark Zone which includes Job opportunities, Environmental Conservation, she added.


Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal also said that there is an urgent need to turn to Maize and our government would relentlessly work to make Maize as the third viable staple crop of Punjab after Wheat and Rice and growing of maize with enhanced quality of seeds. A Maize based Food Park is like putting an engine to the cart so that cultivation of maize grows leaps and bounds. Highlighting the new flagship scheme “KISAN SAMPADA YOJANA”, Minister of Food Processing Industries said that with the aim of making every farmer a Food Processor also, this scheme has been designed where farmers can also set up big or small food processing units and marketing units. She also said that enterprises willing to set up maize based food processing units in Sukhjit Mega Food Park would get loan from NABARD at affordable rates. She also thanked the state government for extending support for the establishment of the Mega Food Park.



Background:

Maize Based Mega Food Park is the first major and serious step in the history of India for containing the desertification problem of Punjab and would make farmers turn to maize cultivation which need less water for more production. Maize is being used by different industries for seed, starch, brewery, food additives, sweeteners etc and it is also a basic raw material to thousands of industrial products like oil, proteins, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, beverages, film, textile, gum, value added foods, paper industries, bio-ethanol etc.


The Mega Food Park will leverage an additional investment of about Rs.250 crores in 25-30 food processing units in the park and generate turnover of Rs.450-500 crores annually. The Park will provide direct and indirect employment to 5,000 persons and benefit about 25,000 farmers.


Set up in an area of 55 acres, the first Maize based Park is being built with an investment of Rs. 123.7 crores with a grant of Rs.50 crores by Union Food Processing Industries Ministry to have Multipurpose Cold Storage of 3, 000 Metric tonnes, Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) and Deep Freezer 1 Metric Tonne/Hour capacity, Sorting and Grading Yard of 2,000 sqm and Food Testing Lab. In addition to that promoter is also set up an Anchor Unit with an investment of Rs.105 crores for Maize Processing with an installed grinding capacity of 500 Metric Tonnes a day.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Food Processing Industries
19-July, 2017 16:27 IST
Radiation Processing Technology

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing a scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure with the objective of preventing post-harvest losses of horticultural & non-horticultural produce. One of the components of the Cold Chain scheme is the setting up of Irradiation facilities for preservation of the food products including onion, potato etc., Irradiated food is regulated in the country in accordance with the Atomic Energy (Radiation Processing of Food & Allied Products) Rules 2012 and Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.Food can be irradiated only in a food irradiation plant, which is authorized by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and licensed by the competent Government Authority. The license to carry out food irradiation operation is given only after ascertaining the safety and security of the installation, its suitability to ensure proper process control, and availability of licensed operators and qualified staff. Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (BRIT) is providing consultancy services for establishment of food irradiation plant. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is also regulating the food safety aspects of irradiated food products under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2016 and its Regulations there under.


Under the scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, the Ministry provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid @ 35% for general areas and @ 50% for North East States, Himalayan States, Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) areas and Islands for storage and transport infrastructure and @ 50% and 75% respectively for value addition and processing infrastructure subject to a maximum grant-in-aid of Rs. 10 crore for setting up integrated cold chain projects including irradiation facility. The scheme is primarily private sector driven and proposals under this scheme are invited through Expression of Interest (EOI).The entrepreneurs/ promoters are free to set up Irradiation facility as per their business model and financial capability throughout the country.

As per revised operational scheme guidelines issued on 29.08.2016 for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure the implementation schedule for setting up the cold chain projects including Irradiation projects is 20 months in General Areas and 24 months in North-East States, Himalayan States, ITDP Areas and Islands from the date of issue of the sanction to the project.


This information was given by the Minister of Food Processing Industries Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha

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Ministry of Food Processing Industries
19-July, 2017 16:26 IST
Employment & FDI Equity Inflows in Food Processing Industries Sector

As per the Annual Survey of Industries 2014-15 conducted by Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Food Processing is one of the major employment intensive industries constituting 12.77per cent of employment generated in all manufacturing factories registered under Factories Act 1948. The total number of persons engaged in such food processing industries was 17.73 lakh in 2014-15. As per the NSSO 67th Round, 2010-11, total number of persons engaged in unincorporated enterprises of food processing industries was 47.9 lakh. The details of employment generated during the last three years, year-wise are as follows:


Year
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Persons (in lakh)

16.89
17.41
17.73

Source: Annual Survey of Industries, Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation



As per the extant Policy, FDI up to 100%, under the automatic route, is allowed in food processing industries. Also, 100% FDI is permitted under Government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured and/or produced in India. To encourage the development of food processing industries, Government has provided various fiscal incentives in terms of exemption of taxes. A special fund of Rs. 2000 crore has also been created with NABARD to provide affordable credit to entrepreneurs for setting up of food processing units in designated Food Parks. Food and agro-based processing units and cold chain infrastructure have been classified under agriculture activities for Priority Sector Lending(PSL). As per the Annual Survey of Industries conducted by Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the Invested Capital in Food Processing Industries registered under Factories Act 1948during the last three years is as follows:


Year
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15

Invested Capital(Rs. Crore)
3,11,977.3
3,31,925.9
3,68,443.6

Source: Annual Survey of Industries, Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation


According to the data provided by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the year-wise details of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) equity inflows received in food processing industries sector are as follows:


Year
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
FDI Equity inflows

(US $ Million)

515.86
505.88
727.22

Source: Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion


This information was given by the Minister of Food Processing Industries Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.


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Ministry of Food Processing Industries
19-July, 2017 16:25 IST
Development of Processed Food Sector & Awareness Thereof

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has a separate scheme for the Promotional Activities, Advertisements, Publicity, Studies & surveys to create awareness of plan schemes and to encourage investment in food processing which are aimed at creating infrastructure and facilities for food processing industries for reducing wastages, enhancing preservation, extending shelf life and processing of perishables resulting in increase of income of farmers.


The promotional activities of the Ministry are aimed at the development of the processed food sector, creating awareness among all stakeholders including farmers, attracting investment etc. Participation in national/international exhibitions/ fairs is made to disseminate information including Farmer Producers Organizers (FPOs), Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs regarding food processing industries, familiarizing the existing and prospective entrepreneurs with modern techniques of production and packaging, development of market and popularization of products. Research and development innovations are also showcased amongst farmers and processors. Assistance is provided for organization of national/international seminars / workshops of pan India nature which are spearheaded by apex industry bodies like CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, All India Food Processors Association (AIFPA), Central Government Autonomous Bodies and Public sector Undertakings in the field of food processing industry for this purpose.


Government of India has approved a new Central Sector Scheme – KISAN SAMPADA YOJANA (KSY) for the period upto 2019-20 to be implemented by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI). Under KSY, a new Scheme for Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages has been approved. The objective of the scheme is to provide effective and seamless backward and forward integration for processed food industry by plugging the gaps in supply chain in terms of availability of raw material and linkages with the market. The scheme will enable linking of farmers to processors and the market thereby ensuring remunerative prices for their produce. The new scheme for creation of capacities under Kisan Sampada Yojna will also assist in creating linkages between farmers & FPIs to reduce the wastage of perishable commodities.


In addition to this, Government of India under Kisan Sampada Yojna is also implementing the Mega Food Park and Cold Chain Schemes which also aim to reduce post-harvest losses of horticulture and non-horticulture produce and providing remunerative price to farmers for their produce.



This was information given by the Minister of State for Ministry of Food Processing Industries Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

********


Ministry of Food Processing Industries
19-July, 2017 16:25 IST
Cold Storage Units

Ministry of Food Processing Industries is presently assisting 236 integrated cold chain projects.


Operationalization of 236 cold chain projects envisages creation of a cold chain capacity of 7.68 lakh MT of Cold Storage/Controlled Atmosphere/Deep Freezer Storage, 215 MT/Hr of Individual Quick Freeze, 110.49 lakh LitrePer Day of Milk Processing/Storage and 1400 nos. of Reefer Vehicles. Out of this, Ministry has so far created a capacity of 3.98 lakh metric tonnes of cold storage, 104.39 metric tonnes per hour of Individual Quick Freezing (IQF), 39.83 lakh litres per day of Milk processing/ storage and 591 reefer vans. A study was undertaken by National Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in 2015 on All India Cold-Chain Infrastructure Capacity (Assessment of Status & Gap) to assess the requirement for cold chain infrastructure in the country. The study has made the following analysis of cold chain infrastructure:


Type of Infrastructure
Infrastructure Requirement(A)
Infrastructure created (B)

Pack-house
70,080 nos.
249 nos.

Cold Storage (Bulk)
34,164,411 MT
31,823,700 MT

Cold Storage (Hub)
9,36,251 MT

Reefer Vehicles
61826 nos.
9000 nos.

Ripening Chamber
9131 nos.
812 nos.



This information was given by the Minister of State for Ministry of Food Processing Industries Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

********


Ministry of Food Processing Industries
19-July, 2017 16:24 IST
Funds for Food Processing Industries in Jharkhand

An amount of Rs. 41.04 Lakh has been released to the projects in Jharkhand under the Ministry’s Scheme for Technology Up-gradation/Establishment/ Modernization of Food Processing Industries and Scheme for Research and Development during 2013-14 as per the details as given below:


Details of Grant-in-aid released to Units/Establishments in the State of Jharkhand in the year 2013-14

(a) Scheme for Technology Up-gradation / Establishment / Modernisation of FPIs (TUS)



Sl. No.
District
Sector
Project Name
Grant in aid released (Rs. In lakhs)

1.
BOKARO
Rice milling
Sri KhatuShyamUdyog
12.67 (2ndinstalment)

2.
SINGHBHUM (EAST)
Rice milling
MGR Agro Products Ltd.
25.0 1stinstalment)



(a) Scheme for Research & Development


Sl. No.
Name of the Project
Institution / University
Grant-in-aid released (Rs. in lakh)
1.
Use of Natural Resins and Gums for Preservation and Value Addition of Fishery Products
Indian Institute of Natural Resins & Gums, Namkum, Ranchi
3.376

In Jharkhand, the Ministry has operationalized one Mega Food park namely Jharkhand Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd. at Ranchi in 2016. Another Mega Food Park namely, KaushalTriveni Mega Food Park Ltd., Bokaro has been granted in-principle approval in January, 2017. Ministry has also assisted one Food Testing Laboratory at Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi for which grant-in-aid of Rs.50 lakhs was released.


The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been implementing various Central Sector Schemes for promotion and development of food processing sector in the country. The Schemes of the Ministry are project oriented and not State- specific. Proposals for financial assistance for setting up of projects under various schemes are invited through Expression of Interest which are published in print and electronic media. Entrepreneurs have the freedom to choose the location of the project based on availability of raw material, techno-economic feasibility and viability of the project.



This information was given by the Minister of Food Processing Industries Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.


********

Ministry of Food Processing Industries
19-July, 2017 16:23 IST
Promotion of Food Processing Industries

Government has approved a new Central Sector Scheme-KISAN SAMPADA YOJANA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) with an outlay of Rs. 6,000 crore for the period 2016-20 coterminous with the 14th Finance Commission cycle to promote food processing in the country.


KISAN SAMPADA YOJANA is an umbrella scheme with the following components:


(a) Mega Food Parks

(b) Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure

(c) Creation / Expansion of Food Processing& Preservation Capacities

(d) Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters

(e) Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages

(f) Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure

(g) Human Resources and Institutions



The schemes being implemented under the KISAN SAMAPADA YOJANA are applicable throughout the country and these are not state specific. The schemes are private sector driven and provide freedom to the entrepreneurs to choose the project location based on availability of raw material, techno-economic feasibility and viability of the project.



The govt. has taken several other steps to promote food processing sector in the country. A Special Fund of Rs. 2000 Crore has been setup in NABARD to make available affordable credit to designated food parks and agro-processing units in such designated food parks. Food and agro-based processing units and cold chain infrastructure have been classified under agriculture activities for Priority Sector Lending (PSL) as per the revised RBI Guidelines issued on 23rd April,2015.


As per extant policy, Foreign Direct Investment FDI upto 100%, under the automatic route is allowed in food processing industries. Further, 100% FDI is now permitted under Government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured and/ or produced in India.


Ministry of Food Processing Industries has entered into agreements/Memorandum of Understating (MoUs) with France and Italy for bilateral co-operation in the field of Food Processing Sector.

Salient features of these agreements/MoUs are (i) to attract investment for infrastructure development of food processing sector, (ii) developing institutional co-operation, and (iii) participation in food fairs, conferences workshops, etc. In order to have collaboration in technologies, teaching, research and skill development in the food processing sector, Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have also been entered with institutions in some countries by the two institutions under the administrative control of this Ministry namely National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) and Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT).



This information was given by the Minister of Food Processing Industries Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha

********

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Commerce & Industry
24-July, 2017 14:39 IST
FDI in Food Processing Industries





As per extant Policy, FDI up to 100%, under the automatic route, is allowed in food processing industries. Further, 100% FDI under Government route for retail trading, including through e-commerce, is permitted in respect of food products manufactured and/or produced in India.



Data on foreign investment in India is maintained remittance wise, which is very voluminous and is available in public domain at the website of Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion at www.dipp.nic.in under the heading `Publication’ at ‘SIA Newsletter’. However, the statement on financial year wise FDI equity inflows from April 2014 to May 2017 in food products sector and food processing industries, as maintained is as under



Food Products


Sl No
Year
FDIin US$ million

1
2014-15
Apr-Mar
342.50

2
2015-16
434.92

3
2016-17
562.40

4
2017-18
Apr-May
182.40


Grand Total
1,522.23



Food Processing Industries



Sl No
Year (Apr-March)
FDI in US$ million

1
2014-15
515.86

2
2015-16
505.88

3
2016-17
727.22

4
2017-18
Apr-May
187.90


Grand Total
1,936.86



The Government reviews FDI policy on an ongoing basis with a view to liberalise and simplify the FDI policy so as to provide ease of doing business in the country leading to larger FDI inflows. However, no such estimation/ assessment are possible, as FDI is largely a matter of private business decisions.



This information was given by the Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Lok Sabha today


********

 

[Hindustani78]

The Commerce Secretary, Ms. Rita A. Teaotia addressing at the launch of the Indus Food India’s global Food and beverage Trade Show, in New Delhi on July 25, 2017.

The Commerce Secretary, Ms. Rita A. Teaotia launching the Indus Food India’s global Food and beverage Trade Show, in New Delhi on July 25, 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Food Processing Industries
25-July, 2017 15:52 IST
State wise distribution of Cold Storage capacity

As per All India Cold Storage Capacity and Technology - Base line Survey (10.12.2014) conducted by M/s Hansa Research Group, commissioned by National Horticulture Board (NHB) under Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, 75% of the total cold storage capacity in the country was used for the purpose of storage of horticulture crops including potato. Out of total production of potatoes in the country, 75% was stored in cold storages for long term storage at farm gate. Further, 95% of cold storages in the country were owned by private sector, 3% by cooperatives and remaining 2% were under Public Sector Undertakings.


As per the information available as on 31.03.2017, there were 7645 cold storages with a capacity of 34.95 million MT in the country. The State wise and agencies wise details are as follows:


State wise & Agency wise distribution of Cold Storage as on 31.03.2017



S. No.
Name of the State
upto 2009*
2009-10 to 2016-17

NHB
NHM
MoFPI
Total


No.
Capacity (MT)

No.
Capacity (MT)

No.
Capacity (MT)

No.
Capacity (MT)

No.
Capacity (MT)

1
Andaman & Nicobar Islands (UT)
2
210
0
0
0
0
1
600
3
810

2
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
290
900606
36
220158
101
619021
15
42776
442
1782561

3
Arunachal Pradesh
1
5000
0
0
0
0
1
1000
2
6000

4
Assam
24
88068
10
61738
0
0
2
8100
36
157906

5
Bihar
246
1147041
28
111821
29
153233
3
3500
306
1415595

6
Chandigarh (UT)
6
12216
1
246
0
0
0
0
7
12462

7
Chhattisgarh
69
341885
14
68323
13
65349
2
8530
98
484087

8
Delhi
95
126158
2
3699
0
0
0
0
97
129857

9
Goa
29
7705
0
0
0
0
0
0
29
7705

10
Gujarat
398
1267304
50
169199
295
1419209
21
46095
764
2901807

11
Haryana
244
393121
39
147816
45
152509
10
56384
338
749830

12
Himachal Pradesh
18
19858
7
20504
29
54805
12
35850
66
131017

13
Jammu & Kashmir
19
42869
6
24630
7
37707
6
7310
38
112516

14
Jharkhand
45
170148
8
36757
5
29775
0
0
58
236680

15
Karnataka
170
407165
8
78844
12
49392
8
24777
198
560178

16
Kerala
193
58105
1
5000
0
0
4
17300
198
80405

17
Lakshadweep (UT)
1
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
15

18
Madhya Pradesh
197
808052
22
114580
71
320083
10
20950
300
1263665

19
Maharashtra
466
546748
30
106860
58
151122
50
173662
604
978392

20
Manipur
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
5500
2
5500

21
Meghalaya
3
3200
1
5000
0
0
0
0
4
8200

22
Mizoram
0
0
1
3471
0
0
2
530
3
4001

23
Nagaland
2
6150
0
0
0
0
2
1200
4
7350

24
Orissa
101
291039
0
0
68
247100
2
2002
171
540141

25
Pondicherry (UT)
3
85
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
85

26
Punjab
422
1345193
55
176908
166
584902
17
48701
660
2155704

27
Rajasthan
110
324226
26
98907
21
88760
9
43385
166
555278

28
Sikkim
1
2000
0
0
1
100
0
0
2
2100

29
Tamil Nadu
148
238536
16
65047
1
6000
9
28042
174
337625

30
Tripura
11
29450
3
16027
0
0
0
0
14
45477

31
Uttar Pradesh
1589
10118000
503
2975267
184
1016530
23
66265
2299
14176062

32
Uttrakhand
15
68499
5
9272
10
21650
16
60998
46
160419

33
West Bengal
463
5682000
14
47812
26
153699
9
64050
512
5947561


Total
5381
24450652
886
4567886
1142
5170946
236
767507
7645
34956991


(Source: Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI) upto 2009, National Horticulture Board (NHB), National Horticulture Mission (NHM) & Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)

This information was given by the Minister of Food Processing Industries Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha

********

Ministry of Food Processing Industries
25-July, 2017 15:50 IST
Integrated Cold Chain and Value addition infrastructure

In order to arrest post-harvest losses of horticulture & non-horticulture produce and to provide remunerative prices to farmers, Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing the Central Sector Scheme of to provide integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure facilities from the farm gate to the market. Under the scheme, the Ministry provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid @ 35% for general areas and @ 50% for North East States, Himalayan States, ITDP areas and Islands for storage and transport infrastructure and @ 50% and 75%, respectively for value addition and processing infrastructure subject to a maximum grant-in-aid of Rs.10 crore per project for setting up integrated cold chain projects in the country. The scheme is primarily private sector driven and proposals under this scheme are invited through Expression of Interest (EOI).


The Ministry is assisting 236 cold chain projects. These include 103 cold chain projects which have been recently sanctioned in the month of March/April, 2017.


Further, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for holistic development of horticulture which also provides assistance for creation of post harvest infrastructure including establishment of Cold Storages. The scheme is implemented by States, based on Annual Action Plan. States have been advised to use 35% – 40% of their annual budget for creation of Post-harvest management infrastructure including cold storages. The component is project based & demand driven.


Loans to food & agro-based processing units and Cold Chain have been classified under Agriculture activities for Priority Sector Lending (PSL) as per the revised RBI Guidelines issued on 23/04/2015. Various fiscal incentives are also being provided to promote creation of cold chain infrastructure.


Details of year wise funds allocated and released by Ministry under the scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure and under MIDH in the last five years are as follows:


Details of year wise funds allocated and released by Ministry of Food Processing Industries under the scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure in the last five years.




Year
BE (Rs. Crore)
RE(Rs. Crore)
Expenditure(Rs. Crore)


2013-14
100.00
103.75
103.73

2014-15
160.00
153.37
153.37


2015-16
181.00
180.50
160.36

2016-17
158.23
185.21
184.88

2017-18
180.00
--
20.87
(As on 21.07.2017)

Allocation of funds under National Horticulture Mission& Horticulture Mission for North-Eastern & Himalayan Region components of MIDHprogramme of Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare


(Rs. in crore)


Sl. No.
State/Implementing Agency
Allocation GoI (Share)


2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17


1
Andhra Pradesh
116.45
127.50
74.59
71.50
64.03


2
Bihar
46.75
42.50
42.50
28.50
26.31


3
Chhattisgarh
106.25
114.75
120.70
80.00
69.23


4
Goa
3.40
4.25
4.68
3.00
2.52


5
Gujarat
106.25
119.00
130.90
78.71
71.39


6
Haryana
90.95
102.00
112.20
71.50
61.84


7
Jharkhand
63.75
68.00
68.00
45.00
40.18


8
Karnataka
119.00
119.00
124.95
81.50
72.97


9
Kerala
72.25
85.00
85.00
40.50
46.42


10
Madhya Pradesh
55.25
80.75
93.50
51.00
45.35


11
Maharashtra
136.00
702.10
158.95
102.50
88.97


12
Orissa
68.00
85.00
93.50
57.50
49.91


13
Punjab
62.90
63.75
70.13
46.00
39.86


14
Rajasthan
80.75
85.00
89.25
55.00
50.89


15
Tamil Nadu
68.00
97.75
107.95
61.50
55.03


16
Telangana
0.00
0.00
59.71
40.50
32.90


17
Uttar Pradesh
59.50
59.50
68.00
40.00
37.27


18
West Bengal
38.25
42.50
42.50
28.50
24.91


19
Delhi
2.57
0.00
2.55
0.50
0.50


20
Puducherry
0.91
0.85
1.70
1.00
1.00


21
A & N Islands
6.97
3.00
5.00
5.00
2.00


22
Lakshadweep
0.00
0.85
1.00
1.00
0.80


23
Dadra & Nagar Haveli
0.00
1.11
1.11
1.00
0.50


24
Arunachal Pradesh
48.95
48.00
50.00
35.50
32.30


25
Assam
30.80
48.00
48.00
30.50
28.00


26
Manipur
45.90
48.00
50.00
37.50
32.00


27
Meghalaya
35.05
40.00
40.00
28.00
25.50


28
Mizoram
43.10
48.00
52.00
34.50
31.50


29
Nagaland
43.55
48.00
52.00
34.50
31.50


30
Sikkim
43.30
45.00
49.00
34.50
30.50


31
Tripura
44.80
49.00
54.00
37.50
33.00


32
Jammu & Kashmir
35.20
30.00
60.00
61.78
46.00


33
Himachal Pradesh
30.00
32.00
48.00
31.50
32.00


34
Uttarakhand
19.35
30.00
46.00
22.50
31.00


35
ICAR/SFAC/NHB
80.00
84.00
0.00
0.00
0.00


36
Directorate of Arecanut& Spices Development, Calicut
10.00
11.00
11.00
11.00
11.00


37
Spices Board, Kochi
8.00
8.00
5.00
4.00
2.00




* During 2013-14, an amount of Rs. 557.60 crore was allocated and released to Maharashtra for rejuvenation of orchards in drought affected districts.



This information was given by the Minister of Food Processing Industries Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha

********

Ministry of Food Processing Industries
25-July, 2017 15:49 IST
Credit and Capital facility to Food Processing Industries

The Government has been taking steps to increase flow of credit to Food Processing Industries including Rice Mills. A special fund of Rupees Two Thousand Crore has been created by NABARD for making available credit to designated Food Parks and the Food Processing units setup therein including Rice Mills. Food Processing has been notified as Agriculture activity for the purpose of priority sector lending for the Food and Agro based processing units / projects subject to aggregate sanctioning limit of Rs. 100 Crore per borrower. Moreover, with the objective of ensuring hassle –free credit to farmers, the Govt. of India has been fixing targets for flow of Credit to agriculture by banking sector every year. The target for Agriculture Credit fixed for 2017-18 is at Rs.10, 00,000 crores.

As per recommendation of 14th Finance Commission, since 1.4.15 the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Mission as food prices got delinked from Government of India’s assistance and it was left to the State Governments to decide on its continuance from their increased resource. As a part of the Committed / Spillover liabilities of 11th Plan period during the 12th Plan period also, Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been releasing grant-in-aid to eligible entrepreneurs under the Scheme for Technology Upgradation/ Establishment/ Modernization of Food Processing Industries. As part of the committed liabilities of the 11th plan, grant-in-aid of Rs. 0.27 crore to three States has been released during the current years as under:

Sl.No.
Name of the State
Total Sanctioned Cases
Amount Released(Rs.in crore)

1
Chhattisgarh
1
0.10

2
Karnataka
2
0.13

3
Punjab
1
0.04

Total
4
0.27


It may be recalled that for promotion of overall growth and development of all Food Processing Industries including rice Mills of the country, Ministry of Food Processing Industries had been implementing a Scheme namely Scheme for Technology Upgradation/ Establishment/ Modernization of Food Processing Industries up to 31.03.2012. Under this scheme, financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid was being provided for Setting up/Technology Upgradation/Modernization of food processing units in the country. The quantum of financial assistance admissible for eligible entrepreneurs under the above scheme was at the rate of 25% of the cost of Plant & Machinery and Technical Civil Works subject to a maximum of Rs.50 lakhs in the case of General areas and for difficult areas, the same was at rate of 33.33% of the cost of Plant & Machinery and Technical Civil Works subject to a maximum of Rs.75 lakhs. The aforesaid scheme was subsequently subsumed in the Centrally Sponsored (CSS)-National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) with effect from 01.04.2012 till 31.03.2015.

This information was given by the Minister of Food Processing Industries Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha

********

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Agriculture
01-August, 2017 17:19 IST
Development of Cold Chains

Government is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for development of horticulture including post harvest management. Under the mission assistance is provided for development of all relevant infrastructure including pack house, pre-cooling units, staging cold room, cold storages, controlled atmosphere (CA) storage, reefer vans, primary/mobile processing units and setting up of ripening chambers etc. to promote logistic integration with the aim to reduce losses across total supply chain and enable farmers to access markets to get remunerative prices for their produce.

The component is demand/ entrepreneur-driven from among entrepreneurs, private companies, cooperatives, farmers groups etc through commercial ventures for which assistance @ 35% of admissible project cost in general areas and @ 50% in hilly and schedule area is available as credit linked and back ended subsidy.

The State wise allocations under MIDH are made on the basis of Annual Action Plan. States have been advised to allocate 35% – 40% of allocations under MIDH for creation of post harvest management including cold chain development. During the current year an amount of Rs. 14829.00 lakh has been allocated to Maharashtra under MIDH which includes Rs. 5135.00 lakh for development of post harvest infrastructure including cold chain.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Parshottam Rupala, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, today.



****

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
01-August, 2017 16:41 IST
New Rules for Packaged Food Products

The Government has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 vide G.S.R. 629(E) dated 23 June, 2017 and incorporated a new provision under Rule 6(1) as follows:

“6(1)(da) If a package contains a commodity which may become unfit for human consumption after a period of time, the ‘best before or use by the date, month and year’ shall also be mentioned on the label:

Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply if a provision in this regard is made in any other law.”

The facility of ‘e-code’ for net quantity assurance of the commodity and other required declarations is proposed to be given to the industries to ensure that the commodity is correct in quantity and declarations, which is optional and not mandatory.

The e-commerce companies are required to ensure that the mandatory declarations are displayed on the digital and electronic network used for e-commerce transactions viz. Name and address of the manufacturer/ packer/ Importer, Name of the Commodity, Net quantity, Retail sale price in the form MRP (inclusive of all taxes) and consumer care details.

The size of the numerals printed on the pre-packaged commodities have been increased vide this new amendment in the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. The said amendment will come into force w.e.f. 1stJanuary, 2018 to enhance consumer protection.

For the violation of these Rules, the penalty provisions are made under section 36 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.

This information was given by Shri C. R. Chaudhary, the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, today.



****

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

01-August, 2017 16:40 IST
Celebrity Endorsements

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, which examined the Consumer Protection Bill, 2015, has recommended for a fine of Rs. 10 lakhs and imprisonment up to two years or both for first time offence and fine of Rs. 50 lakhs and imprisonment for five years for second time offence against endorsers of misleading advertisements. The recommendations are under consideration of the Government.

Under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, the Central Government has issued instructions permitting manufacturers or packers or importers of pre-packaged commodities to declare the changed retail sale price (MRP) on the unsold stock manufactured/packed/imported prior to 1st July, 2017 after inclusion of the increased amount of tax due to GST, if any, in addition to the existing MRP , for three months with effect from 1st July, 2017 to 30th September, 2017, by way of stamping or putting sticker or online printing. Further, for reducing the MRP, a sticker with the revised lower MRP (inclusive of all taxes) may be affixed and the same shall not cover the MRP declaration made by the manufacturer or the packer or importer, as the case may be, on the label of the package.

The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 provide for penalty for violation of the provisions.

The Department of Revenue has set up a helpline to address the queries/complaints related to GST. In the Department of Consumer Affairs, the grievances/complaints related to GST are handled by the National Consumer Helpline.

This information was given by Shri C. R. Chaudhary, the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, today.

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Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
01-August, 2017 16:39 IST
Misleading Advertisements

The Department of Consumer Affairs has launched a portal “Grievance against Misleading Advertisement (GAMA)” where a consumer can lodge a complaint against a misleading advertisement. From March, 2015 till date 4438 complaints have been received through this portal. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) processes the complaints received through this portal as per ASCI Code, based on an MoU signed between the Department and the ASCI. If a complaint is upheld, ASCI takes up the complaint with the company/agency concerned either for withdrawal or modification of the advertisement. In case of non-compliance of its orders, ASCI forwards the complaints to the regulators concerned for taking appropriate action.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, which examined the Consumer Protection Bill, 2015, already introduced in Parliament, has recommended for stringent provisions to tackle misleading advertisement, as well as to fix liability on endorsers/celebrities. The recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee are under consideration of the Government.

This information was given by Shri C. R. Chaudhary, the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, today.



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Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
01-August, 2017 16:33 IST
Allocation and Procurement of Food

For food security of the people, the Government is implementing the National Food Security Act which provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural and upto 50% of the urban population at the all India level to receive foodgrain at highly subsidized prices. Under the Act, allocation of foodgrains to States/UTs is made on the basis of State/UT-wise coverage of population and the foodgrain entitlements prescribed in the Act. There is no proposal to change the allocation norms. NFSA is being implemented in all 36 States/UTs.

On the basis of peak stock requirement during procurement season, the overall storage capacity required in the country is about 600 Lakh MT. Against this, the total capacity available with Food Corporation of India and State Agencies for storage of foodgrains as on 30.06.2017 was 794.48 Lakh MT. Thus on the overall, there is sufficient capacity for storage of foodgrains in the country. Beside this, Government of India is implementing three schemes to augment and modernize the storage facilities.

(a) Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme under which storage capacity is created by private parties, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Agencies for guaranteed hiring by FCI. A capacity of 138.51 lakh MT has already been completed as on 30.06.2017; (b) Central Sector Scheme with special focus on the North Eastern States. During 12th Five Year Plan, a capacity of 1,17,680 MT in North Eastern (NE) States and 20,000 MT in other than NE States has been created by FCI. Further, a capacity of 46,495 MT has been created by State Governments; and (c) Construction of steel silos under which Government of India has also an action plan for construction of steel silos in the country for a capacity of 100 LMT in 3 phases.

Before the commencement of Rabi and Kharif Marketing Seasons, Department of Food & Public Distribution issues uniform specifications for procurement of foodgrains for the Central Pool. These uniform specifications are circulated to F.C.I. and all State Govts./Agencies with instructions to ensure that foodgrains are procured strictly in accordance with the uniform specifications. Foodgrains procured by F.C.I. and State Govts/Agencies are stored in covered godowns as well as in CAP (cover and plinth). During storage, the following steps are taken for safe storage and preservations of foodgrains:

(1) All godowns are constructed as per specifications.

(2) Foodgrains are stored by adopting proper scientific code of storage practices.

(3) Adequate dunnage materials such as wooden crates, bamboo mats, polythene sheets are used to check migration of moisture from the floor to the foodgrains.

(4) Fumigation covers, nylon ropes, nets and insecticides for control of stored grain insect pests are provided in all the godowns.

(5) Prophylactic (spraying of insecticides) and curative treatments (fumigation) are carried out regularly and timely in godowns for the control of stored grain insect pests.

(6) Effective rat control measures, both in covered godowns as well as in CAP storage are used.

(7) Foodgrains in ‘Cover and Plinth’ (CAP) storage are stored on elevated plinths and wooden crates are used as dunnage material. Stacks are properly covered with specifically fabricated low-density black polythene water -proof covers and tied with nylon ropes/nets.

(8) Regular periodic inspections of the stocks/godowns are undertaken by qualified and trained staff and all senior officers. The health of the foodgrains is monitored at regular intervals by a system of checks and super checks at different levels. Following Checks and Super checks are conducted in the godowns by FCI to ensure proper preservation of foodgrains in the storage.

I. Fortnightly inspection of stocks on 100% basis by Technical Assistant.

II. Monthly inspection by Manager(QC)

III. Quarterly inspection by AGM(QC)

IV. Super Checks by Regional, Zonal and FCI Hqrs Squads.

(9) The principle of “First in First Out” (FIFO) is followed to the extent possible so as to avoid longer storage of foodgrains in godowns.

(10) Only covered rail wagons are used for movement of foodgrains so as to avoid damage during transit.

(11) Damage Monitoring Cells have been set up at District, Regional and Zonal levels to regularly monitor quality of stocks and reduce damages.

The steps taken to ensure remunerative price to farmers are:

1) The minimum support prices (MSP) are announced by the Government of India at the beginning of the sowing season for crops on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) which determines the MSP based on the input costs and margin to farmers. MSP (Minimum Support Price) operations are given wide publicity through pamphlets, banners, sign boards radio, TV and advertisements through print & electronic media.

2) Procurement centres are opened by respective State Govt. Agencies/ FCI taking into account the production, marketable surplus, convenience of farmers and availability of other logistics / infrastructure such as storage and transportation etc. Large number of temporary purchase centres in addition to the existing Mandis and depots/godowns are also established at key points for the convenience of the farmers.

3) For further strengthening the system that the farmers directly get the MSP announced by GOI, the GOI decided to do away with the levy system of procurement of rice with effect from KMS 2015-16, allowing the entire procurement of paddy to be done only by the State Agencies/FCI and payment to farmers is done largely through electronic mode or account payee cheque by State Agencies/FCI other than in Punjab & Haryana where it is routed through the Arthiyas as per APMC Act of the State.

4) The agricultural produce brought by a farmer is procured by Govt. agencies and payments are made through RTGS/electronic mode/ account payee cheque within 48 hours of purchase of his produce.

Department of Food & Public Distribution is implementing a Scheme on 'End-to-end Computerization of TPDS Operations' with the aim to improve the efficiency of the current system and to address various challenges such as leakages and diversion of foodgrains, elimination of fake and bogus ration cards etc. The scheme comprises digitization of ration cards/beneficiary and other databases, online allocation, computerization of supply-chain management, setting up of transparency portal and grievance redressal mechanism.

This information was given by Shri C. R. Chaudhary, the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, today.



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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Railways
01-August, 2017 12:32 IST
Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Minister of Railways & Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra lays foundation stone to develop Cold Storage Warehouse for onion at Lasalgaon near Nashik

● Major benefit to farmers due to reduction in spoilages by 35%.



Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Minister of Railways & Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra laid the foundation stone for the cold storage on 30th July, 2017 at Lasalgaon near Nashik in Maharashtra. Indian Railways’ PSU CONCOR (Container Corporation of India ltd.) is developing a cold store at Lasalgaon near Nashik for storage of onions and other perishable produce. This cold storage will have a total capacity of 2500 MT out of which 1500 MT will be exclusively utilised for onion storage and remaining for other perishable commodities such as fruits & vegetables like Onion, Pomegranate, Grapes, Banana, Tomato, Citrus. Indian Railways has now steered into the areas of providing storage facility to the farmers and the cold storage at Lasalgaon will be a boon to the farmers of not only Nashik & Lasalgaon, but also of nearby areas of Jalgaon, Manmad, Dhule,etc.

The cold storage is being set up on CSR model by CONCOR at a cost of Rs. 5 crores. The cold storage will be maintained by M/s Lasalgaon Vibhag Sahakari Kharedi Vikri Sangh Ltd. Railways is a major transporter for onion and plays a key role in timely transportation of onion to various consumer market from producer states. To reduce the spoilages, Indian Railways allots the rakes/ wagons on priority basis wherever possible for carriage of onion.

The climatic conditions largely affect the onion growing areas thereby leading to fluctuations in farm produce. The bumper production needs to be properly stored to stabilise supply during scarcity. The conventional methods lead to losses exceeding 35% depending on the weather conditions. The losses are thus national loss as the input cost increases. The cold storage will help in increasing the post storage life of onions & they can be even sent to remote locations. The labour cost is reduced to a great extent as there is no need for turning around the onions as required in conventional storage. There is direct saving of material cost and farming cost due to saving in weight and spoilage losses. Maharashtra being 33% contributor to the national onion production needs quality storage options.

Background

PCCs Set-up/Being Set up by CONCOR

1. Perishable Cargo Centre (PCC) at Ghazipur, U.P.

CONCOR has set up Perishable Cargo Centre (PCC) at Ghazipur Ghat Railway station in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh for transportation and storage of fruits and vegetables under CONCOR CSR initiatives. The facility has been constructed on Railway land leased out to CONCOR on 2500 sqms area having facilities for ripening and storage of fruits and vegetables. The facility is catering to the Storage needs of farmers of the adjoining areas thereby saving vegetables and agriculture produce from getting perished. The facility was inaugurated by Honorable Prime Minister on 14th Nov. 2016 at Ghazipur, U.P.

2. Perishable Cargo Centre (PCC) at Rajatalab, Varanasi, U.P.:

Similar facility is also being constructed at Rajatalab Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh for storage of fruits and vegetables of local farmers of adjoining areas. Its foundation stone was laid by Honorable Prime Minister. It is likely to be commissioned by November end.

3. Centre for Perishable cargo Azadpur, Delhi:

CONCOR has set up a centre for Perishable Cargo (CPC) at Azadpur, Delhi. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art ripening chambers for banana with auto control for temperature relative humidity and ethylene concentration. Facility is also equipped for pre-ripening processing of banana and other fruits like washing, de-sapping, sorting, grading, and packing etc. It has got cold storage facilities for storage of fruits and vegetables.

4. Perishable Cargo Centre (PCC) at Singur, Hooghly district.

CONCOR has set-up Perishable Cargo Centre (PCC) at Singur, Hooghly district, of West Bengal. Singur Perishable Cargo Centre has been built using the “state of the Art” CIPC technology to provide higher value addition to grower of potatoes. This has helped storage of potatoes at optimal temperature thereby increasing its value.

5. Up- gradation of Mango Pack House at Sindhudurg:

CONCOR has taken up the work of Up- gradation of Mango Pack House at Deogad Tehsil, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra in order to provide better facilities to Mango grower farmers exporting mangoes.



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[Hindustani78]

The Director General, International Rice Research Institute, Dr. Matthew Morell meeting the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh, in New Delhi on August 02, 2017.

The Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri S.K. Pattanayak and the Director General, International Rice Research Institute, Dr. Matthew Morell signing a Memorandum of Agreement, in the presence of the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh, in New Delhi on August 02, 2017.

The Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri S.K. Pattanayak and the Director General, International Rice Research Institute, Dr. Matthew Morell signed a Memorandum of Agreement, in the presence of the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh, in New Delhi on August 02, 2017.