Business Portal of India : Entrepreneurship in Agriculture & Allied Sectors : Horticulture and Allied Sectors : Fruits and Vegetables : Policies and Schemes

In order to remove some of the major constraints affecting the fruit and vegetable processing industries and to provide the necessary impetus to its growth, Ministry of Food Processing Industries have several plan scheme in the fruits and vegetable processing sector. These include schemes for training of entrepreneurs, creation of infrastructural facilities for fruits and vegetables processing including mushroom processing, Hops and industrial estates, setting up/expansion/upgradation of F&VP units and development of backward linkages through contract farming, market promotion through advertisement, promotion of FPO symbol and marketing of small manufacturers' products under common brand name, setting up of Quality Control Labs and Research & Development in identifying new techniques and practices including those for packaging.

Under the scheme for setting up of Food Processing and Training Centres in rural areas, assistance is provided upto Rs. 2.00 lakhs for plant, machinery and equipments including quality testing equipments etc. and Rs. 1.00 lakh towards seed capital / revolving fund for commercial production. In the case of Food Processing & Training Centre to be set up for multi product activities, this quantum of assistance to meet the cost of plant & machinery and equipments including quality testing equipments etc. could be enhanced to Rs. 7.50 lakhs and the for seed capital/revolving fund for commercial production to Rs. 2.00 lakhs. Assistance under this scheme is available to State/ Central Govt. Depts., Joint Sector undertakings/assisted sector undertakings, cooperatives, nongovernmental organisations, voluntary organisations, Govt. organisations etc. These Centres are proposed to be funded to identify the entrepreneurs who may set up Food Processing units in rural areas thereby providing self-employment and reduction in exodus of rural population to urban areas. It would also lead to transfer of technology to rural areas, as also familiarisation with modern processing techniques. These Food Processing & Training Centres will provide 'hands on' experience in operating and managing a small unit. The trainees will participate in each activity from book-keeping, manufacturing, quality testing to marketing of products so as to get an exposure of real situations which would instill confidence in them to set up and run commercial ventures. This type of education is also to generate a spirit of co-operation and encourage food processing cooperatives in rural areas.

The Ministry also provides assistance for research and development projects in fruits and vegetable processing sector. Some of the important projects are:

Centre for Technology Development, Bangalore for Setting up of an Analytical and Quality Control Lab;
APEDA, New Delhi for Vapour Heat Treatment Facilities for mangoes and other fruits for exports; and
M/s. Fresh Marketing Cooperative Society Ltd., Hyderabad, for installation of a Solar Refrigeration Unit received from FAO.
Post-harvest Institute, Pune.
Dr. Subhas Mukherjee Memorial Reproductive Biology Research Centre, Calcutta for Twin-Screw Cooker Proto-type.
Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR) Trivandrum- Pilot project for fresh flavoured ginger Oleoresin.
Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore- Food Safety Biotechnology Research Centre Project.
Dr. Subhas Mukherjee Memorial Reproductive Biology Research Centre, Calcutta for Twin -Solar Cooker Proto - Type.
Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore - Utilization of Protein from inexpensive Sources for enhancing the Surface properties by physico-chemical and enzymatic modifications.