Haryana Agri-Business and Food Processing Policy 2026

What is the Haryana Agri-Business and Food Processing Policy 2026?

The Haryana Agri-Business and Food Processing Policy 2026 is the Haryana government's incentive policy for food processing and agri-business. The Industries and Commerce Department notified it on 29 May 2026 (Notification No. 02/02/2026-1IB-II, Haryana Government Gazette Extraordinary No. 82-2026/Ext.) in supersession of the Haryana Agri-Business and Food Processing Policy 2018. It is in force for 5 years from notification unless amended. The Directorate of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Haryana runs it.

According to the policy, its aims are to attract investment of over Rs 5,000 crore, create 30,000 new jobs in food processing, cut post-harvest losses and raise food processing exports by 50%. Several 2018 schemes are reintroduced under new names with higher support, for example the old Creation, Expansion and Diversification of Individual Agro and Food Processing Units Scheme, which now returns as the Haryana Creation, Expansion and Diversification of Agri and Food Processing Units Scheme.

Related schemes: People who look up Haryana Agri-Business and Food Processing Policy 2026 often also check Haryana Progressive MSME and Export Promotion Policy 2026, Electricity Duty Exemption Scheme (Haryana MSME), Programme to Accelerate Development for MSME Advancement (PADMA), Credit Rating Scheme (Haryana MSME), Stamp Duty Refund Scheme (Haryana MSME), Haryana Divyang Pension Scheme and HARIHAR Scheme (Homeless, Abandoned and Surrendered Children Rehabilitation Initiative Haryana). See also all Haryana government schemes.

Who is eligible?

Eligible:

• Enterprises in all agriculture and allied sectors, including horticulture, dairy, poultry, fisheries, livestock and millets.
• Agri and food processing units, agricultural cooperatives, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) and ancillary units such as food packaging facilities.
• New units that start commercial production during the policy period.
• Existing units that expand, diversify or modernise at the same site with additional fixed capital investment of at least 50%, completed within 18 months.

Not eligible:

• Activities on the negative list in Annexure I of the policy.
• Units whose commercial production falls outside the policy period.
• Land, captive power plants, effluent treatment and pollution control equipment do not count towards eligible capital expenditure, though they may be claimed under other state or central schemes.
• Working capital, goodwill, pre-operative expenses, capitalised interest and technology or consultancy fees are excluded.

A unit that had taken effective steps and invested before 29 May 2026 may opt for the incentives of the Haryana Enterprises and Employment Policy 2020 instead, if its commercial production starts within two years of the policy's notification.

What are the incentives?

All rates below are percentages of eligible capital expenditure, by area category. Each scheme also gives 5% extra to units led by women, SC, Divyang, transgender or ex-servicemen entrepreneurs, 100% export oriented units and joint ventures with a foreign investor.

Other schemes under the policy:

• R&D or incubation centre: 45% up to Rs 5 crore; building cost no more than 40% of project cost. At most 5 applications will be supported.
• Food testing and calibration lab: 45% up to Rs 2.5 crore for a new or upgraded lab recognised by NABL, FSSAI or an equivalent body.
• Primary Processing and Packaging Centre in rural areas: 45% up to Rs 2 crore.
• Reefer vans: 35% of cost up to Rs 30 lakh per vehicle, for at most two vehicles; in Core areas only EVs qualify, and EVs get 5% extra outside Core areas.
• Mini food parks in Intermediate, Sub-Prime and Prime/Focus areas: 45% of project cost up to Rs 5 crore (5 acres, at least 3 units and Rs 10 crore investment), Rs 10 crore (10 acres, 5 units, Rs 20 crore) or Rs 15 crore (15 acres or more, 8 units, Rs 25 crore). Land cost is excluded.
• Food waste processing: 45% up to Rs 2 crore per unit.
• PMFME top-up: an extra 15% of eligible project cost on top of the 35% central PMFME subsidy, total capped at 50%, for projects approved under PMFME after the policy's notification.

The policy also sets aside Rs 50 crore for a Haryana Food Processing Centre of Excellence, which is a state facility rather than a grant to units.

What documents are required?

How to apply

1. Check your area category (Core, Intermediate, Sub-Prime or Prime/Focus) and make sure your activity is not on the negative list.
2. Pick the scheme that matches your project: a processing unit, linkages, cold chain, storage, a lab, packaging, reefer vans or a food park.
3. Prepare the project report with costs that count as eligible capital expenditure.
4. Contact the Directorate of MSME or your District MSME Centre for the scheme's operational guideline and application route.
5. Set up the unit and start commercial production within the policy period, keeping the first sale bill.
6. File the claim with the CA certificate and supporting papers, and respond to verification.

What happened to the 2018 policy?

The 2018 policy was superseded on 29 May 2026. Units already covered under it, and units that qualify under the transitional clause, should ask the Directorate which rules apply to their claim. New projects come under the 2026 policy.

Where to get help

Directorate of MSME, Haryana, Plot No. C-3, HSVP Complex, Sector 6, Panchkula 134109, phone 0172-2580710. The policy notification is listed on msme.haryana.gov.in under Policies, Schemes and Registration.