Union Cabinet approves incentive scheme for FPI; seeks to build ready-to-eat brands for global market
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 31
Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the production linked incentive scheme for the Food Processing Industry (FPI).
The six years scheme will have a Rs 10,900 crore incentive, and subsidy. It seeks to build Indian ready-to-eat brands on a global stage.
“Aiming to reach a target of Rs 6 lakh crore worth of agricultural exports annually, we are Rs 1 lakh crore today”, said Food Minister Piyush Goyal.
Defending the farm laws, the government said that they are maintaining the status quo, and creating an additional alternative for the farmers to raise their incomes.
“Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI)” to support the creation of global food manufacturing champions commensurate with India’s natural resource endowment and support Indian brands of food products in the international markets with an outlay of Rs. 10900 crore.
Objectives of the Scheme:
The objectives of the Scheme are to support food manufacturing entities with stipulated minimum Sales and willing to make the minimum stipulated investment for expansion of processing capacity and Branding abroad to incentivise the emergence of strong Indian brands.
Support creation of global food manufacturing champions:
Strengthen select Indian brand of food products for global visibility and wider acceptance in the international markets;
Increase employment opportunities of off-farm jobs, ensuring remunerative prices of farm produce and higher income to farmers.
Salient features:
The first component relates to incentivising manufacturing of four major food product segments viz. Ready to Cook/ Ready to Eat (RTC/ RTE) foods, Processed Fruits & Vegetables, Marine Products, Mozzarella Cheese.
Innovative/ Organic products of SMEs including Free Range -Eggs, Poultry Meat, Egg Products in these segments are also covered under above component.
The selected applicant will be required to undertake investment, as quoted in their Application ( Subject to the prescribed minimum) in Plant & Machinery in the first two years i.e. in 2021-22 & 2022-23.
Investment made in 2020-21 also to be counted for meeting the mandated investment.
The conditions of stipulated Minimum Sales and mandated investment will not be applicable for entities selected for making innovative/ organic products.
The second component relates to support for branding and marketing abroad to incentivise emergence of strong Indian brands.
For promotion of Indian Brand abroad, the scheme envisages grant to the applicant entities for in store branding, shelf space renting and marketing.
Impact including employment generation potential:
The implementation of the scheme would facilitate expansion of processing capacity to generate processed food output of Rs 33,494 crore and;
Create employment for nearly 2.5 lakh persons by the year 2026-27.
