(a) the details of facilities being provided regarding the cold storages facilities for training and creating awareness among the farmers with regard to value addition of their produce along with the details of the value addition facilities available in the functional cold chain projects, State/UT-wise;
(b) whether any mechanism exists to fix the rates for storage and value addition of agri-products to enable the farmers to avoid cold storage facilities; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)
(a): Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing the Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) with the objective of arresting post-harvest losses of horticulture & non-horticulture produce and providing remunerative price to farmers for their produce. Under the scheme, Ministry provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid @ 35% for general areas and @ 50% for North East States, Himalayan States, ITDP areas and Islands for storage and transport infrastructure and @ 50% and 75% respectively for value addition and processing infrastructure subject to a maximum grant-in-aid of Rs. 10 crore for setting up integrated cold chain projects including irradiation facility without any break from the farm gate to the consumer. The integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure can be set up by individuals, groups of entrepreneurs, cooperative societies, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), NGOs, Central/State PSUs, etc. The scheme is primarily private sector driven and proposals under this scheme are invited through Expression of Interest (EOI). The scheme is available in rural & urban areas in all States/UTs. State wise funds are not allocated under the scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure. The facilities being created under this Scheme are being utilized for captive use as well for commercial use by the farmers. The Ministry is creating awareness among the farmers regarding all the schemes under Pradhan Mantri Kisan SampadaYojana(PMKSY) including Scheme of Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure Facilities by organizing events, seminars, conferences, workshops so as to invite more proposals for setting up of integrated cold chain facilities for the benefit of farmers. The State / UT- wise details of value addition facilities available in functional cold chain projects is at Annexure.
(b) & (c): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries does not have the mandate to fix the rates for storage and value addition of agri-products.
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