Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana UPSC Notes

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) is a flagship scheme launched by the Government of India to strengthen the food processing sector. Introduced to create modern infrastructure, it aims to link agricultural produce with processing and markets, enhancing the income of farmers and reducing wastage. With this initiative, the government seeks to ensure value addition in agriculture, generating employment, and encouraging entrepreneurship in rural areas. Below are the key objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana:

• Reduce agricultural waste and improve the processing of perishable crops.
• Promote food processing units to increase the availability of processed food in both domestic and international markets.
• Improve farmers’ income by linking them directly to the food processing units.

Objective of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana

The main objective of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana is to create modern infrastructure for the food processing industry. This is achieved through cluster-based development and integration of infrastructure along the food value chain, from farm gate to market. The scheme also focuses on reducing food wastage and increasing farmers’ income. It is aligned with the vision of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. The Yojana aims to achieve the following objectives:

Key Goals

• Minimize post-harvest losses by developing efficient cold chains, warehousing, and processing facilities.
• Strengthen infrastructure at key points like farm gates, clusters, and food processing zones.
• Enhance farmer-market linkages to ensure fair pricing and better value for agricultural produce.
• Encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in agro-processing industries.
• Provide access to advanced technologies and best practices in the food processing sector.

Seven Component Schemes under PMKSY

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana comprises seven component schemes under PMKSY that address various aspects of the food processing value chain:

• Mega Food Parks: Establish large-scale food processing infrastructure with modern facilities to link agricultural production to markets and reduce wastage through integrated food processing units.
• Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure: Build cold chains for perishable products, enabling efficient storage, transportation, and processing to reduce post-harvest losses and add value to raw agricultural produce.
• Creation and Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities: Focus on setting up and upgrading food processing units to increase capacity and improve food preservation techniques for better marketability of processed goods.
• Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters: Develop specialized agro-processing clusters to boost competitiveness and enhance the processing, preservation, and marketing of agricultural products in designated areas.
• Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages: Establish strong connections between farmers, food processing units, and markets by building infrastructure for efficient collection, storage, and transportation of agricultural produce.
• Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure: Promote the creation of labs and facilities to ensure high-quality, safe food production by adopting global standards and practices in the food processing sector.
• Human Resources and Institutions: Strengthen the skillset in the food processing sector through training programs and capacity-building initiatives for farmers, entrepreneurs, and institutions involved in agro-processing.

Mega Food Parks Scheme

The Mega Food Parks scheme aims to provide a mechanism to link agricultural production with the market by bringing together farmers, processors, and retailers. It helps farmers get better prices for their produce while reducing wastage.

Benefits

• Integrated food processing infrastructure close to the source of raw materials.
• State-of-the-art cold chains and warehousing facilities to store perishable goods.
• Common facilities such as testing labs, packaging, and logistics, reducing the cost for individual farmers.

Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure

Cold chain infrastructure is critical in preventing food spoilage. The Integrated Cold Chain scheme under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana focuses on building a reliable network to transport perishable goods from farms to processing units.

Objectives of the Cold Chain Scheme

• Reduce post-harvest losses in perishables such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
• Develop cold storage facilities near production areas and link them with processing units.
• Promote value addition by ensuring the availability of quality produce throughout the year.

Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters

Agro-processing clusters are the backbone of India’s rural economy. The Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters scheme encourages the development of food processing industries in specific regions.

Focus Areas

• Promote cluster-based development to enhance the competitiveness of the food processing sector.
• Create employment opportunities for rural communities by developing agro-processing units.
• Improve the efficiency of agro-processing through infrastructure support and better technology.

Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure

Ensuring food safety and quality is a major concern in the food processing industry. The Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana supports the creation of labs and facilities that ensure the production of safe, high-quality food.

Components

• Testing laboratories for checking the quality of processed foods.
• Certification services to ensure food meets international standards.
• Training programs for farmers and food processors on best practices in food safety.

Human Resources and Institutions

The Human Resources and Institutions component of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana focuses on building the skills and knowledge base required in the food processing industry.

Focus

• Training and skill development in areas like food processing, quality assurance, and packaging.
• Support institutions in upgrading their capabilities to train more professionals.
• Capacity building for local communities to manage food processing units.

Employment Generation and Farmer Empowerment

One of the core aims of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana is to empower farmers and create employment opportunities in rural areas. By reducing the dependency on traditional farming, the scheme opens avenues for alternative income generation.

Job Creation

• Direct employment in food processing units and related infrastructure.
• Indirect employment through supply chain management, logistics, and packaging.
• Empowering farmers by training them in modern farming practices, improving their financial stability.

Impact of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana

Since its inception, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana has had a significant impact on the Indian agro-processing sector. It has led to better price realization for farmers, a reduction in food wastage, and increased availability of processed food in the market.

Key Achievements

• Increased investment in the food processing industry, leading to better infrastructure.
• Enhanced export potential by improving the quality and shelf life of Indian agricultural products.
• Strengthened rural economies by creating employment and improving farmer incomes.

Conclusion

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana is an ambitious and comprehensive initiative aimed at transforming the food processing sector in India. By addressing key issues like wastage, infrastructure gaps, and farmer-market linkages, it is creating a sustainable and profitable ecosystem for farmers and agro-industries alike. The seven component schemes under PMKSY provide a well-rounded approach to modernizing the agro-processing sector, ensuring long-term growth and prosperity for rural India.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana UPSC Notes

1. Launched in 2017, the scheme aims to create modern infrastructure for food processing and reduce post-harvest losses. 2. The focus is on the entire food processing value chain, covering production, processing, preservation, and distribution. 3. It includes schemes like Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold Chain, and Food Safety Infrastructure. 4. The scheme is expected to create over 5 lakh jobs, benefiting both farmers and rural areas by boosting income levels. 5. One key objective is to reduce wastage of agricultural produce, particularly perishables like fruits and vegetables. 6. PMKSY promotes private sector investment in food processing through public-private partnerships. 7. It supports the government’s goal of doubling farmers’ income by improving storage and marketing facilities. 8. The scheme has a budget allocation of ₹6,000 crore, with potential for more investment in food supply chain infrastructure.

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