Arpit Jajoo
Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries is taking steps to implement a new scheme, Scheme for Agro-Marine produce Processing and Development of Agro-clusters (SAMPADA) for overall development of food processing sector. This scheme will provide enabling infrastructure, expanding processing and preservation capacities, controlled temperature logistics and backward and forward linkages with an allocation of Rs.6000 Crore for a period co-terminus with 14th finance commission. This new schemes aimed at reducing food wastage and doubling farmers’ income.
Announcing this, Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said her ministry would soon approach the Cabinet for the approval of ‘Scheme for Agro-Marine Produce Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters (SAMPADA).’
The umbrella scheme SAMPADA would help in overall development of the food processing sector. Some old schemes such as mega food parks and cold chain projects and three new schemes will be merged into SAMPADA for better efficiency and transparency.
The new three schemes which will be launched soon will help create infrastructure for improving the entire food supply chain. The three schemes are named as
- Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities
- New Agro-Processing Clusters
- Backward and Forward Linkages
The government of India is taking steps to boost food processing sector as part of its objective to bring down post-harvest losses preferably to zero level, provide quality food to consumers at a cheaper price and for doubling of farmer’s income.
The Centre has so far sanctioned 42 mega food parks and 234 cold chain projects with 139 lakh tonnes of preserving and processing capacity of agro-produce worth Rs 35,000 crore.
The post-harvest losses are estimated at Rs. 92,000 crores annually in India, adding that these food parks and cold chains would help in cutting this wastage. These projects, being set up with a total investment of about Rs. 15,000 crore, will also generate employment for 3.5 lakh persons and benefit 15 lakh farmers.
The government is working towards improving the overall health of food processing industry with three main objectives as below.
- Bring down post-harvest losses preferably to zero level
- Provide quality food to consumers at cheaper price
- Double the income of farmers
The government is mapping all agro-clusters in the country. Under the new scheme, a government will provide up to Rs 10 crore of subsidy grant for creating infrastructure at each of these clusters so that seamless transfer of food products from producing to consuming centres becomes a reality.
Reference and Details:
- For more information visit: http://mofpi.nic.in/
