Cabinet approves ₹6,520 crore outlay for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has cleared a total outlay of ₹6,520 crore for the ongoing Central Sector Scheme Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) during the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26).

The approved amount includes an additional ₹1,920 crore. Of this, ₹1,000 crore will fund the setting up of 50 multi-product food irradiation units and 100 NABL-accredited food testing laboratories. These facilities will fall under two component schemes — Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (ICCVAI) and Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI).

The remaining ₹920 crore will support projects under various other components of PMKSY during the same period. Both ICCVAI and FSQAI are demand-driven. The government will invite eligible entities across India to submit proposals through Expressions of Interest (EOIs). Authorities will scrutinise these proposals as per scheme guidelines before granting approvals.
The proposed 50 food irradiation units are expected to add preservation capacity of 20 to 30 lakh metric tonnes per year, depending on the type of food processed. The 100 food testing labs, to be set up in the private sector, aim to boost advanced infrastructure for food testing and ensure better compliance with food safety standards.

The Cabinet expects the expanded scheme to strengthen food safety, reduce waste, and improve value addition in the food processing sector.

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