Category: Entrepreneurship

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing Central Sector umbrella scheme- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2016-17 for overall growth and development of food processing sector, including cereals, oilseeds, vegetables & fruits based processing industries. Under its component schemes, MoFPI provides credit linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of grants-in-aid to entrepreneurs for setting up of food processing / preservation industries with farm level infrastructure like primary processing facilities, collection centers etc. So far, a total of 292 Food Processing Units have been approved for assistance under component scheme Creation/Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities. Also,a total of 124Primary Processing Centres with Dry Warehouse capacity of 116450 MT, ColdStorage capacity of 56520 MT and deep freezer capacity of 1750 MT have been approved as part of Mega Food Park projects.

The Government has announced expansion of scope of “Operation Greens Scheme” from Tomato, Onion & Potato (TOP) to 22 perishable products, in the budget speech for 2021-2022, so as to boost value addition in these perishables. Ministry has identified these 22 perishables, which include Mango, Banana, Apple, Pineapple, Carrot, Cauliflower, Beans etc.

This information was given by Minister of State for M/o Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries press release dated 06 Aug 2021

Ministry of Finance Press Release dated 04 Aug 2021

The Government of India, the Central Water Commission, government representatives from 10 participating states and the World Bank today signed a $250 million project for long-term dam safety program and improving the safety and performance of existing dams across various states of India.

The Second Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP-2) will strengthen dam safety by building dam safety guidelines, bring in global experience, and introduce innovative technologies. Another major innovation envisaged under the project, that is likely to transform dam safety management, is the introduction of a risk-based approach to dam asset management that will help to effectively allocate financial resources towards priority dam safety needs.

The project will be implemented in approximately 120 dams across the states of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu, and at the national level through the Central Water Commission (CWC). Other states or agencies may be added to the project during project implementation.

The agreement was signed by Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of India; representatives from the state governments of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu; and Mr. Junaid Ahmad, Country Director, India on behalf of the World Bank.

World Bank support to dam safety in India includes the recently closed DRIP-1 ($279 million + $62 million Additional Financing) that improved the safety and sustainable performance of 223 dams in six states of India and one central agency.

Other important measures that DRIP-2 will support include flood forecasting systems and integrated reservoir operations that will contribute to building climate resilience; the preparation and implementation of Emergency Action Plans to enable vulnerable downstream communities to prepare for and enhance resilience against the possible negative impacts and risks of climate change; and the piloting of supplemental revenue generation schemes such as floating solar panels.

For first time, Dragon Fruit grown by farmers of Gujarat & West Bengal exported to London, United Kingdom & Kingdom of Bahrain

APEDA is making efforts to export Dragon fruit to other European countries to get better price realisation to the farmers of their produce

PM congratulated farmers of Kutch for the cultivation of fruit for ensuring India’s self-sufficiency in the productionin ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme in July, 2020 on All India Radio

PM’s dream has come true when the fruit is being exported to the UK and Kingdom of Bahrain
Posted Date:- Aug 03, 2021

In a major boost to exports of exotic fruit, consignments of fiber& mineral rich ‘dragon fruit’, which are sourced from farmers of Gujarat & West Bengal, have been exported for the first time to London, United Kingdom & Kingdom of Bahrain. In India, dragon fruit is also referred to as Kamalam.

The consignment of exotic fruit exported to London was sourced from farmers of Kutch region and exported by APEDA registered packhouse in Bharuch, Gujarat, while the consignment of ‘dragon fruit’ exported to Kingdom of Bahrain was sourced from the farmers of West Midnapore (West Bengal) and exported by APEDA registered enterprises, Kolkata.

Earlier in June 2021, a consignment of ‘dragon fruit’ that was sourced from the farmers of Tadasar village, Sangli district, Maharashtra was exported to Dubai by APEDA recognized exporter.

Production of ‘dragon fruit’ commenced in India in early 1990s and it was grown as home gardens. Due to high export value, the exotic ‘dragon fruit’ has become increasingly popular in recent years in the country and it has been taken up for cultivation by farmers in different states. There are three main varieties of dragon fruit: white flesh with pink skin, red flesh with pink skin, and white flesh with yellow skin. However, the red and white flesh is typically being relished by the consumers.

At present, dragon fruit is grown mostly in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. West Bengal is new to taking up cultivation of this exotic fruit.

Scientifically referred to as Hylocereusundatus, the ‘dragon fruit’ is grown in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, the USA and Vietnam and these countries are the major competitors for Indian Dragon Fruit.

The cultivation of dragon fruit requires less water and can be grown in various kinds of soils. The fruit contains fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It can help in repairing the cell damage caused by oxidative stress and reduce inflammation, and also improve the digestive system. Since the fruit has spikes and petals resembling lotus, it is referred to as ‘Kamalam’.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme in July, 2020 on All India Radio had mentioned about the dragon fruit farming in the arid Kutch region of Gujarat. He had congratulated the farmers of Kutch for the cultivation of fruit for ensuring India’s self-sufficiency in the production. His dream has come true when the fruit is being exported to the UK and Kingdom of Bahrain.

APEDA is making efforts to export it to other European countries to get better price realisation to the farmers of their produce.

APEDA promotes exports of agricultural & processed food products by providing assistance to the exporters under various components such as Infrastructure Development, Quality Development and Market Development. Apart from this the Department of Commerce also supports exports through various schemes like Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme, Market Access Initiative etc.

Ministry of Commerce & Industry Press Release dated 04 Aug 2021 ****

Entrepreneurs availed over 29.55 crore loans of Rs. 15.52 lakh crore under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) since 2015

More than 6.80 crore loans of Rs. 5.20 lakh crore extended to New Entrepreneurs/Accounts

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) and Stand-Up India Scheme (SUPI) are the flagship Schemes implemented by Department of Financial Services (DFS) for extending loans to entrepreneurs. This was stated by Union Minister of State for Finance Dr Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Under PMMY, institutional credit up to Rs. 10 lakh is provided by Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) for entrepreneurial activities to micro/small business units, including for new enterprises, which help in creating income generating activities in sectors such as manufacturing, trading, services and activities allied to agriculture. Government allocates annual targets regarding the amount to be sanctioned under PMMY to MLIs. For the current financial year (FY), a target of sanction of Rs. 3.00 lakh crore has been fixed for MLIs.

The Minister stated that as per data uploaded by Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) on Mudra portal, as on 31.03.2021, over 29.55 crore loans amounting to Rs. 15.52 lakh crore have been sanctioned under PMMY across the country, since inception of the Scheme in April, 2015. Of these, more than 6.80 crore loans amounting to Rs. 5.20 lakh crore have been extended to New Entrepreneurs/Accounts.

Giving details of the other flagship scheme, Stand-Up India (SUPI), the Minister said that it facilitates bank loans between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe borrower and at least one Woman borrower per bank branch of Scheduled Commercial Banks for setting up greenfield enterprises in manufacturing trading or services sector and activities allied to agriculture.

The Minister stated that bank-wise (Public Sector Banks) details regarding the number of loans sanctioned to new entrepreneurs during each of the last three years and current year in respect of PMMY and SUPI are placed at Annexure-I    and Annexure-II respectively.

The Minister also stated that the Government takes measures on complaints received from time to time in respect of implementation of PMMY & SUPI, including turning down of loan applications or non-release of funds, are redressed in coordination with the respective banks.

Ministry of Finance Press Release dated 02 Aug 2021

Government has received complaints from traders, retailers and industry associations against marketplace e-commerce entities regarding deep discounting, predatory pricing and misuse of market dominance

Complaints have been forwarded to relevant Government agencies for necessary examination and investigation

Government has received complaints from traders, retailers and industry associations against marketplace e-commerce entities regardingdeep discounting, predatory pricing and misuse of market dominance.The said complaints have been forwarded to relevant Government agencies for necessary examination and investigation.

Consumer Protection (e-Commerce) Rules, 2020 were notified on 23^rd July, 2020. In order to further strengthen the regulatory framework for prevention of unfair trade practices in e-Commerce, Government has sought suggestions on the proposed Amendments to the Rules by placing it on the website of the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Comments from many stakeholders on draft e-Commerce policy have been received relating to definition of e-Commerce, role of marketplace entities and liabilities of e-Commerce companies, among other related issues.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Shri Som Parkash, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Ministry of Commerce & Industry Press Release dated 30 July 2021