(a) whether a considerable percentage of total production fruits and vegetables in the
country perish every year due to the non-availability of adequate transport and storage facilities;
(b) if so, whether the Government has conducted any survey in this regard; and
(c) if so, the steps taken by the Government to overcome the problems?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a)&(b): No survey has been conducted by the Government to assess the loss of fruits and
vegetables in the country. However, a Committee chaired by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan has
reported a loss of 25 to 30% of perishable items.
(c): The National Horticulture Board, is implementing programmes aimed at reducing the
wastage of horticultural produce through the following schemes:-
(i) `Capital investment subsidy scheme for construction/expansion/modernization of
cold storage for horticulture produce`, and
(ii) Development of commercial horticulture through production and post-harvest
management.
Besides, the Government has launched a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on `National Horticulture
Mission` during 2005-06 under which assistance for creating post-harvest management
infrastructure has been envisaged.