Bengal food processing industry vows to invest Rs 181 crore under PLI scheme
Times of India | 11 March 2025
12 Kolkata: Bengal's food processing industry has promised an investment of Rs 181 crore under Centre's production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme. If the investment conforms to all conditions, Centre will provide Rs 1,200 crore as subsidy over five years to the state's food processing sector.
Subrata Gupta, Union secretary in the ministry of food processing industries, announced this on Monday during an industry interaction organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce in the city.
The central ministry has launched Rs 11,000 crore under the PLI scheme for the food processing sector across the country, said Gupta.
"Our production capacity is immense but the processing capacity needs to be raised. Food processing can arrest the wastage of vegetables and fruits. Our ministry has launched multiple initiatives to support businesses of all sizes. Initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana provide infrastructure support, including cold storage, processing units and food testing labs," Gupta said.
Currently, food processing projects by various private players in Bengal stand at Rs 900 crore, on which Centre will give Rs 250 crore as subsidy. "Of the Rs 250 crore subsidy, Rs 190 crore has already been released," said Gupta.
The state food processing sector joined the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises scheme last year and so far 140 micro entrepreneurs have got financial assistance, said D Praveen, joint secretary in the ministry of food processing industries.
"More than 1,800 self-help group members have been given seed capital under this scheme in Bengal," Praveen added.
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