The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) will financially support the establishment of 100 new National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited food testing laboratories in the upcoming financial year 2025-26. The announcement was made on March 22, 2025 by the Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries.
Speaking at the inauguration of a state-of-the-art food testing laboratory at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University in Bathinda, the Minister emphasized the critical importance of robust food testing infrastructure.
“Food testing is vital for ensuring that food products meet the required safety standards and are free from harmful contaminants and pathogens”
Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries
This initiative is part of the broader Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), a flagship scheme aimed at promoting food processing and related infrastructure. Under PMKSY, a total allocation of ₹503.47 crore has been earmarked for 205 laboratory projects across the nation. Impressively, 169 of these projects have already been completed, with ₹349.21 crore disbursed to date.
These new laboratories will play a crucial role in meeting the stringent requirements of major regulatory bodies, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Export Inspection Council of India (EIC), and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Furthermore, these facilities will also aid in meeting the standards set by international agencies such as the USFDA and EU regulations, thereby supporting India’s food exports.
Farmers and producers in various key sectors will directly benefit from these advanced facilities. These include those involved in the cultivation and processing of citrus fruits, green peas, cauliflower, carrots (both fresh and frozen), milk and milk products, basmati rice, wheat, millets like bajra and sorghum, mustard and sunflower oilseeds, and farm-produced shrimp.
The establishment of these state-of-the-art laboratories will contribute significantly to ensuring compliance with global standards, facilitating exports, and improving the overall quality of food products available to consumers. This will ultimately lead to higher income for farmers and create new job opportunities, particularly for skilled technical personnel.
Bathinda Laboratory: A Model of Modern Testing
The newly inaugurated food testing laboratory in Bathinda exemplifies the advancements in food safety analysis. It is equipped with cutting-edge technologies, including GC-MS/MS, ICP-OES, HPLC, and UV spectrophotometers, capable of detecting pesticide residues, heavy metals, microbiological contaminants, and other potential hazards. With a total project allocation of ₹253.12 lakh and ₹191.259 lakh already released, this facility will serve food processors, farmers, and food businesses in the region, ensuring the safety and quality of their products.
Punjab’s Food Processing Sector: A Success Story
Elaborating on the progress of the food processing sector in Punjab, Minister Bittu highlighted the significant investments and projects approved by the Ministry. These include:
- 24 Cold Chain Projects: Totaling ₹553 crore.
- 3 Agro-Processing Cluster Projects: Worth ₹70 crore.
- 16 Food Processing Units: With a total investment of ₹432 crore.
- 10 Food Testing Laboratories: Amounting to ₹48 crore.
Under the PMKSY scheme alone, 61 projects worth ₹1557 crore have been approved in Punjab, with a grant of ₹419 crore provided.
Furthermore, six factories in Punjab have committed investments under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, totaling ₹126.31 crore. Over 2,500 micro-entrepreneurs in the state have received subsidies under the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, and 1,296 Self-Help Group (SHG) members have received seed capital approval amounting to ₹3.99 crore.
Under the “One District, One Product” initiative, honey and milk-based products have been identified as key products in Bathinda and Mansa districts. In Bathinda, 483 loans totaling ₹142.3 crore were disbursed, while Mansa saw the granting of 253 loans amounting to ₹72.15 crore. Additionally, Self-Help Groups in Bathinda and Mansa received seed capital funding of ₹75 lakh and ₹18 lakh, respectively, under the PMFME scheme.
