PROMOTION OF FPI IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

---

LOK SABHA

According to Indian Horticulture Database 2002 published by National Horticulture Board, production of fruits in Himachal Pradesh in 2000-01 was 4.38 lakhs MT.

As per FPO (Fruits Products Order, 1955) administered by Ministry of Food Processing Industries, there are 115 FPO Licensees in Himachal Pradesh. Number of food processing industries set up in the State depends on a number of factors including available marketable surplus, price of such raw material, availability of processable raw material, availability of trained manpower, demand for fresh and processed products, price of final products etc.

For promotion of food processing industries, Government has taken up the tasks of strengthening infrastructure, providing assistance for technology upgradation, modernisation/expansion of existing units, providing support for Backward and Forward Linkages and through assistance in training human resources. Himachal Pradesh falls under the category of difficult area and is entitled to higher scale of assistance compared to the rest of the country.

This information was given in Lok Sabha today by Shri N.T. Shanmugam, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries in a written reply.