Food Processing industries in Sikkim

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries concerned with a number of food processing sectors such as grain processing, meat processing, poultry & egg processing, milk products, fish processing, fruit and vegetable processing, consumer food industries.

Over the last few years there has been a positive growth in ready to serve beverages, fruit juices and pulps, dehydrated and frozen fruits and vegetable products, tomato products, pickles, processed mushrooms and curried vegetables.

From the year 1998-99, all ministries/departments of the Government are required to spend at least 10% of the plan outlay in the Northeast including Sikkim. The North Eastern Region comprising of the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim by virtue of its diverse agro-climatic conditions, variety of types and abundant rainfall, offers a wide range of agro-horticulture produce of premium quality.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries extends financial assistance for Technology Upgradation/Modernization/Establishment of food processing units in the form of grant-in-aid @ 25% of the cost of plant and machinery and technical civil works subject to maximum of Rs. 50 lakh in general areas or 33.33% subject to a maximum of Rs. 75 lakh in difficult areas such as Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and North Eastern States, Andaman & Nicobar Island, Lakshadweep and ITDP Areas. Under the Mini Mission IV of Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in North Eastern States including Sikkim, J & K, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, assistance at still higher rates i.e. @ 50% upto Rs. 4 crore for promotion of new units and upto Rs. 1 crore for Upgradation/modernization of existing units is available for processing of horticulture produce. Ministry of Food Processing Industries does not set up Food Processing Industries on its own.

A revamped Scheme for Infrastructure Development will be implemented under which, it will give financial assistance in the form of grant for setting up of Mega Food Parks, cold chain infrastructure, value added centers and packaging centers preferably in the Public private Partnership (PPP) Model. The Mega Food Park Scheme will provide backward and forward linkages as well as reliable and sustainable supply chain. The cluster based demand driven approach will provide linkages from farm to market with linkages from local to regional level through Primary Processing Centre, Collection Centres, Strategic Distribution Centre-cum-Cold Chain at critical locations-having controlled Atmosphere storage and distribution centers where large quantities can be stored and supplied to distribution centers for fresh sale and to processing industries for processing. In addition, the Ministry will be providing assistance in the form of grant to private sector/public sector organizations through scheme for setting up of Food Testing Labs, Implementation of Quality Systems such as HACCP, ISO 9000, GHP and GMP, Promotion of Research and Development, Capacity building and Human Resource Development and other promotional activities.