The Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA), an autonomous organisation under the Department of Commerce, under its 12^th Plan Central Sector Scheme titled “Agriculture Export Promotion Plan Scheme of APEDA” has been providing assistance to the exporters of the agricultural and processed food products under the various components of the scheme viz. Infrastructure Development, Market Promotion, Quality Development and Transport Assistance. Moreover, the exporters of the agricultural and processed food products have also been getting assistance under various export promotion schemes of the Department of Commerce viz. Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme, Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme and Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS). 

The export promotion schemes are primarily aimed at assisting exporters of agricultural and processed food products and creating export oriented infrastructure for such products. Benefits derived by the small and marginal farmers from such schemes would be indirect in nature and hence cannot be assessed.

 Exporters of agricultural and processed food products from the State of Rajasthan are eligible for availing assistance under the various export promotion schemes of Department of Commerce and APEDA. APEDA has provided financial assistance to various agencies of the Government of Rajasthan for setting up common infrastructure facilities for exports as under:

Sl. No.	Name of Project	Name of Beneficiary	APEDA’s Assistance (in Rs lakhs)
1.	Pack house for Sohela (2006-07)	Rajasthan State Agriculture Marketing Board	323.66
2.	Pack house for Muhana (2006-07)	Rajasthan State Agriculture Marketing Board	292.50
3.	Pack house for Chomu (2006-07)	Rajasthan State Agriculture Marketing Board	315.75
4.	Pack house for Shahpura (2007-08)	Rajasthan State Agriculture Marketing Board	273.67
5.	Laboratory cum Research Centre for guar gum and agro products testing (2010-11)	Rajasthan Industrial Investment Corporation (RIICO)	323.66

This information was given by the Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

Export promotion assistance strengthens export infrastructure and quality support for agricultural and processed food exporters nationwide. APEDA and Department of Commerce export-promotion schemes provide financial and programmatic assistance across Infrastructure Development, Market Promotion, Quality Development and Transport Assistance to support exporters of agricultural and processed food products; benefits to small and marginal farmers are indirect. Eligibility covers exporters from all States, and APEDA has funded state agencies in Rajasthan to establish common export infrastructure, including pack houses and a laboratory cum research centre for guar gum and agro-products testing, to strengthen post-harvest handling, testing and consolidation for exports.