PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana Enhances Food Processing and Storage Infrastructure

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), launched as a comprehensive initiative to modernize food processing infrastructure, has significantly contributed to the development of efficient supply chains from farm gates to retail outlets.

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According to the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, this flagship scheme aims to enhance the food processing sector, provide better returns to farmers, reduce agricultural waste, and generate employment opportunities, especially in rural areas.

Under PMKSY, various infrastructure components such as cold storage and refrigerated vehicles have been supported to minimize post-harvest losses. However, standalone cold storages are not covered under the scheme.

Since its inception in 2017, numerous state-wise captive storage projects have been approved. Specifically, under the Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure, a sub-scheme of PMKSY, six projects have been approved in Telangana in the past five years.

Additionally, the Food Corporation of India (FCI), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has taken initiatives to upgrade and modernize storage facilities.

The Government of India has approved an Action Plan to construct steel silos under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 RBI's gold Regarding the RBI's gold purchases, she confirmed that the central bank is accumulating gold to maintain a balanced reserve portfolio. While the US dollar has been a dominant component of India's foreign exchange reserves, the RBI also holds reserves in other currencies and gold.

She stressed that the move is part of a strategy to diversify reserves rather than an indication of India shifting away from the dollar or pushing for an alternative international settlement mechanism.

The statement comes at a time when global discussions around de-dollarization have gained momentum, with some countries exploring alternatives for trade and reserves.

However, Sitharaman made it clear that India's increased gold accumulation does not signal any such shift.