The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved a total outlay of ₹6,520 crore for the ongoing Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). This includes an additional allocation of ₹1,920 crore for the scheme’s implementation during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021–22 to 2025–26).
The Cabinet’s approval encompasses two critical components under the PMKSY: Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (ICCVAI) and Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI). These components are designed to enhance food preservation and safety measures across the country, with a strong emphasis on public-private collaboration.
A key feature of the approved outlay is the allocation of ₹1,000 crore for setting up 50 Multi-Product Food Irradiation Units and 100 NABL-accredited Food Testing Laboratories (FTLs) under ICCVAI and FSQAI, respectively. These facilities will be established primarily through private sector participation and are expected to play a pivotal role in improving food shelf life and quality standards.
The 50 proposed irradiation units aim to significantly boost India’s food preservation capabilities. Depending on the nature of food products processed, these units are projected to create a total preservation capacity of 20 to 30 lakh metric tonnes annually. This enhancement is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, enhance food security, and improve farmer incomes by supporting better value realisation for perishable commodities.
Simultaneously, the creation of 100 NABL-accredited food testing labs will foster the development of state-of-the-art infrastructure for food sample analysis. These labs will play a vital role in ensuring compliance with national and international food safety standards, facilitating the supply of safe and high-quality food to consumers.
In addition to the ₹1,000 crore for these infrastructure projects, the Cabinet also sanctioned ₹920 crore for funding other component schemes under PMKSY during the 15th Finance Commission period. These schemes will support a diverse range of projects, including mega food parks, agro-processing clusters, backwards and forward linkages, and food safety systems.
Both ICCVAI and FSQAI are demand-driven schemes, and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries will invite Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from eligible entities across the country. All proposals will undergo rigorous evaluation and selection by the existing scheme guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Union Government’s renewed push under PMKSY reflects its commitment to transforming the Indian agri-food ecosystem. By promoting investment in food processing, enhancing cold chain logistics, and improving food safety standards, the scheme aims to generate employment, minimise food wastage, and boost exports.
This expanded funding for PMKSY represents a critical step in building a robust and globally competitive food processing sector in India.
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