Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been implementing a scheme for creation of infrastructure facilities for food processing sector viz. Cold Chain, Mega Food Park and setting up/ modernization of Abattoirs by extending grant-in-aid to the entrepreneurs.
Apart from this, to support the sector, the Ministry has also launched a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme - National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) - on 1stApril, 2012 for implementation through State/ UT Governments.
Monitoring and Review of the progress in the implementation of schemes are ongoing process to ensure mid-term correction and timely completion of projects.
The mechanism envisaged for implementation, monitoring/ review are as under:
i. Constitution of National Food Processing Development Council (NFPDC) to monitor, review, progress and performance of National Mission on Food Processing;
ii. Appointment of Project/ Programme Management Agency to provide management and monitoring support for implementation of schemes;
iii. Constitution of Technical Committee (TC) and Inter-Ministerial Approval Committee (IMAC) for monitoring infrastructure projects;
iv. Evaluation by the external agencies of various schemes implemented by the Ministry.
Food processing units are set up by entrepreneurs in the private sector.Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) is the main source of data on the number of factories including food processing units registered under Factory Act, 1948.
As per the latest ASI: 2011-12 (provisional), the total number of registered food processing units in the country is 36,875.
This information was given in Lok Sabha today by Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Dr Charan Das Mahant in a written reply.