Cabinet clears ₹6,520 crore for PM Kisan Yojana

New Delhi

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a total outlay of ₹6,520 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26, as part of the 15th Finance Commission cycle. This includes an additional ₹1,920 crore for expanding specific components of the scheme, aimed at strengthening India's food processing sector.

Of the total amount, ₹1,000 crore will be allocated to set up 50 Multi-Product Food Irradiation Units and 100 NABL-accredited Food Testing Laboratories. These will fall under two key sub-schemes—Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (ICCVAI) and Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI). Another ₹920 crore has been set aside for other ongoing projects under the PMKSY umbrella during this period.

Both ICCVAI and FSQAI are demand-driven schemes. Expressions of Interest (EOIs) will be issued to invite applications from eligible entities nationwide. Projects will be selected after proper evaluation, as per existing scheme guidelines.

The 50 proposed irradiation units are expected to add a total food preservation capacity of 20–30 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) per year, depending on the food type. The 100 new food testing labs will be set up in the private sector and will help ensure food safety by testing samples and maintaining standards.

A NABARD study highlighted that the ICCVAI scheme has already helped reduce wastage in sectors like vegetables, dairy, and fisheries. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been running PMKSY since 2016-17 to build post-harvest infrastructure, support value addition, and reduce food losses across the country. The fresh approval aims to further accelerate this progress and boost the growth of the food processing industry.