Key Highlights:
- Cabinet approves Rs 6,520 crore for PMKSY during FY22–FY26.
- 50 irradiation units and 100 food testing labs to be built.
- Expected to boost food safety, reduce wastage, and improve infrastructure.
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a total outlay of Rs 6,520 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). This includes an additional Rs 1,920 crore for the ongoing scheme during the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021–22 to 2025–26).
Focus on Cold Chains and Food Safety
Out of this amount, Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated to set up 50 Multi-Product Food Irradiation Units under the Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (ICCVAI) component. These units help preserve food and reduce waste.
Another Rs 920 crore will go towards setting up 100 Food Testing Laboratories under the Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI) scheme. These labs will follow NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) standards and will be built mostly in the private sector to boost testing capacity and ensure food safety.
Expected Impact of New Units
The irradiation units are expected to create a preservation capacity of 20 to 30 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) per year, depending on the types of food processed. This will help keep vegetables, dairy, and fish products fresh for longer and reduce losses after harvest.
The food testing labs will improve the quality of food by ensuring it meets safety standards. This will make it easier for farmers and food companies to supply safe and high-quality food to both local and international markets.
Implementation and Future Plans
The scheme is demand-driven, meaning eligible companies can apply when the government invites proposals. These will be carefully checked before approval.
According to a NABARD study, the cold chain schemes have already helped reduce food waste in many sectors. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been running PMKSY since 2016–17 to build better post-harvest and food processing infrastructure.
(With IANS Inputs)
