21-Mar-2023: Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying implements National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) scheme across the country
Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) is implementing National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) scheme across the country since Feb-2014. The scheme has been restructured/ realigned in July 2021 for implementation from 2021-22 to 2025- 26with following two components:
- The Component ''A'' of NPDD focuses on creating/strengthening of infrastructure for quality milk testing equipment as well as primary chilling facilities for State Cooperative Dairy Federations/ District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union/SHGs/Milk Producer Companies/Farmer Producer Organizations.
- The Component ‘B’ of the NPDD scheme "Dairying through Cooperatives” aims to increase sale of milk and dairy products by increasing farmer’s access to organized market, upgrading dairy processing facilities and marketing infrastructure and enhancing the capacity of producer owned institutions.
Under Component A of NPDD scheme, DAHD has received 189 proposals from various State Governments from March 2014 to till date. As on 13.03.2023, 185 projects have been approved in 28 States and 2 UTs with total outlay of Rs.3015.35 crore (Central Assistance Rs.2297.25 crore) during 2014-15 to 2022-23. Similarly, under Component B of NPDD scheme, 11 projects have been received and approved in 3 States with the total outlay of Rs.251.79 crore (ODA loan-Rs.115.99 crore and Grant-Rs.120.62 crore).
Under NPDD scheme, projects are normally approved for a period of one to three years. As per guidelines, approved funds under a project are released to the States/UTs in installments on the basis of submission of Audited Accounts, Utilization Certificate, physical and financial progress of previously released amount.
21-Mar-2023: PMFME scheme to support setting up of 2 lakh micro food processing enterprises through credit linked subsidy
Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel informed that the Ministry of Food Processing industries (MoFPI) has been implementing Central Sector Umbrella Scheme- Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) since 2016-17 for overall growth and development of food processing sector, including processing of agro- products and thus increasing the income of the farmers across the country including in the state of Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Under component schemes of PMKSY, MoFPI provides mostly credit linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of grants-in-aid to entrepreneurs for setting up of food processing industries. The projects completed under component schemes of PMKSY are estimated to benefit about 30.67 lakh famers.
Also, as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Initiative, MoFPI is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme-PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME) for providing financial, technical and business support for setting up/upgradation of 2 lakh micro food processing enterprises through credit linked subsidy during five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore. Out of this, a total of 22234 units and 7331 units have been allocated to Maharashtra and Rajasthan respectively.
MoFPI is not facing any major hardship in implementing these schemes.
MoFPI is also implementing Central Sector Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) Scheme, intended to support creation of global food manufacturing champions. The Scheme is being implemented over a six-year period from 2021-22 to 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs. 10,900 crores. For easy and affordable credit to the sector, all food & agro processing activities have been made eligible under Priority Sector Lending and a special fund of Rs.2000 crore has been set up in National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
14-Mar-2023: Climate Resilient Agriculture
ICAR is engaged in a research program on “Consortium for Scaling-Up Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in South Asia (C-SUCSeS)”. The focus of the program is to sustainably increase production and productivity and also to enhance food security, nutrition and income generation in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region. The program also focuses on bringing together agricultural research centres and extension agencies in the SAARC region to develop and share knowledge on climate smart technologies and best practices.
The South Asian governments have, agreed to consider the concept of a regional seed bank, regional testing and certification of seeds and a framework for transfer of plant genetic material and seeds.
India has cooperation with SAARC and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). For capacity development of SAARC countries, regional training programmes are organized jointly by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and SAARC.
Government has agreed to increase investment, promote research and development, facilitate technical cooperation and apply innovative, appropriate and reliable technologies in the agricultural sector for enhancing productivity to ensure food and nutritional security in the South Asian Region.