New Delhi, Mar 22 (KNN) The Ministry of Food Processing industries (MoFPI) has allocated a total of 22234 units and 7331 units to Maharashtra and Rajasthan respectively, informed MoS for Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

This has been done under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme-PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME).

It provides financial, technical and business support for setting up/upgradation of 2 lakh micro food processing enterprises through credit linked subsidy during five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore.

Out of this, a total of 22234 units and 7331 units have been allocated to Maharashtra and Rajasthan separately.

He informed that the MoFPI has been implementing Central Sector Umbrella Scheme- Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) since 2016-17 for overall growth and development of food processing sector.

Under component schemes of PMKSY, MoFPI provides mostly credit linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of grants-in-aid to entrepreneurs for setting up of food processing industries.

The projects completed under component schemes of PMKSY are estimated to benefit about 30.67 lakh famers.

In the written reply it was stated that MoFPI is not facing any major hardship in implementing these schemes.

MoFPI is also implementing Central Sector Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) Scheme, intended to support creation of global food manufacturing champions.

The Scheme is being implemented over a six-year period from 2021-22 to 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore.

For easy and affordable credit to the sector, all food & agro processing activities have been made eligible under Priority Sector Lending and a special fund of Rs 2000 crore has been set up in National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).  (KNN Bureau)