Food processing dept to give grant to women entrepreneurs

To promote and develop the country’s food processing sector, the Ministry of Food Processing said the government would provide financial assistance in form of grant-in-aid to eligible entrepreneurs, including women, Parliament was told on Tuesday.  

“The Ministry is implementing a Central Sector Scheme for Infrastructure Development for Food Processing having components of mega food parks and integrated cold chain, value addition and preservation infrastructure,” MoS for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti told the Lok Sabha.

According to Annual Survey of Industries 2012-13, there are 37,175 units in the registered food processing sectors in India. Small and micro food processing units, being managed by women in rural areas, are over 30 per cent compared to the overall registered food processing units.

The Ministry has implemented a scheme for technology upgradation, establishment and modernisation of food processing industries under the National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) through state / UT governments.