(The Gist of PIB) Cabinet approves Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry

(THE GIST OF PIB) Cabinet approves Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the Central Sector Scheme – “Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI).

Objectives of the Scheme:

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 incentivizing manufacturing of four major food product segments viz. Ready to Cook/ Ready to Eat (RTC/ RTE) foods, Processed Fruits and 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 incentivize the emergence of strong Indian brands.
For the promotion of Indian Brand abroad, the scheme envisages grant to the applicant entities for – in-store Branding, shelf space renting and marketing.
Scheme will be implemented over a six-year period from 2021-22 to 2026-27.

Impact including employment generation potential:

The implementation of the scheme would facilitate the 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.