MoFPI launches National Mission on Food Processing

In order to harness the potential of value addition from the locally available raw material by State /Union Territories (UT) governments, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has launched a Centrally Sponsored Scheme – National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) in the 12th Plan (2012-17).

To give impetus to the food processing industries in the country, the following central sector and centrally sponsored schemes have been taken up during 12th Five Year Plan:

1. Scheme for Infrastructure Development (Mega Food Parks, Cold Chain and Abattoirs).
2. Centrally Sponsored Scheme – National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP).
3. Scheme for Quality Assurance, Codex Standards, R&D and Promotional Activities.
4. Scheme for Strengthening of Institutions.

“MoFPI neither sets up the cold storages on its own nor provides any assistance to the entrepreneurs for this purpose. However, other government agencies like National Horticulture Board (NHB), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) under Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) provide financial assistance for setting up of cold storages under their respective schemes said,” Dr Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, government of India on July 15, 2014.

The minister further stated, “MoFPI regularly interacts with state governments, industry associations and entrepreneurs through seminars / meetings / workshops / video conferencing etc., to know the problems being faced by them and also to discuss the policy changes required for development of food processing sector in the country. Major hurdles faced by entrepreneurs relate to irregular power supply, delay in obtaining statutory clearances from state governments, fluctuations in prices of raw material.”
“MoFPI has taken up these issues in its meetings with state governments,” he concluded.