In a major push for India’s food processing sector, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a total outlay of ₹6,520 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). This includes an additional ₹1,920 crore allocation for ongoing schemes under the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021–22 to 2025–26).
What Is PMKSY and Why This Matters
PMKSY is a central sector scheme designed to modernize India’s agro-processing sector. It aims to reduce wastage, enhance value addition, ensure food safety, and improve supply chain infrastructure.
This fresh approval signals the government’s commitment to making Indian food products globally competitive. Farmers, food entrepreneurs, and rural communities are expected to benefit significantly.
Major Components of the New Allocation
Two major areas will receive focused investment:
- ₹1,000 crore for setting up 50 Multi-Product Food Irradiation Units and 100 NABL-accredited Food Testing Labs
- ₹920 crore for funding various component schemes under PMKSY
This investment is expected to generate new jobs, enhance food preservation, and support entrepreneurship in both urban and rural regions.
Cold Chain Boost with Irradiation Units
The 50 proposed multi-product food irradiation units will help preserve a wide range of perishable items. These modern facilities will enhance food shelf-life, prevent spoilage, and reduce post-harvest losses.
Once operational, they are projected to create a preservation capacity of 20 to 30 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) annually—an enormous leap forward for India’s agri-economy.
Ensuring Food Safety with Testing Labs
The government also plans to set up 100 NABL-accredited food testing laboratories. These labs will be crucial for checking food samples, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and facilitating exports.
This will empower both small and large food businesses to meet domestic and global quality requirements. It’s a step toward building a more trusted and regulated food ecosystem.
Demand-Driven and Transparent Implementation
Both components—Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (ICCVAI) and Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI)—are demand-driven schemes under PMKSY.
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) will soon be floated. Eligible entities can submit proposals, which will be scrutinized under existing guidelines. This process ensures transparency, accountability, and optimum use of funds.
Transforming Rural India with PMKSY
PMKSY is more than just an industrial push. It is about transforming India’s food economy from the grassroots. With better infrastructure, farmers will face less produce loss. They can sell at better prices and cater to larger markets.
Additionally, cold chains and testing labs open up avenues for entrepreneurship, women’s participation in food processing, and more stable incomes in agriculture-adjacent sectors.
Government Vision and Future Outlook
Since its inception, PMKSY has been a game-changer. With this renewed investment, the scheme aligns with India’s goal of becoming a global food processing hub.
The government’s proactive approach, backed by infrastructure and funding, reaffirms its dedication to Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
In Conclusion
This new funding underlines how public policy can drive private investment, rural prosperity, and better health outcomes. The PMKSY expansion is not just a scheme—it’s a blueprint for a resilient and modern food economy.
