(a) whether there are reports that a large quantity of crop got damaged
in the field after reaping;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons therefor during each
of the last three years and the current year, State-wise; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING
INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)
(a) to (c): There are no specific reports regarding large quantity of crops damaged
in the field after reaping. However, in general a study of quantitative harvest and post
harvest losses of major crops was carried out by ICAR during 2005-07. The survey was
undertaken in 106 districts of India with respect to 46 crops and commodities including
5 cereals, 4 pulses, 6 oilseeds etc. The data collected by enquiry and by observations
in the field was scrutinized and statistically analyzed to arrive at the overall estimates
of quantitative harvest and post harvest losses at national level.
The operations considered for assessment of losses were harvesting,
collection, threshing, grading, winnowing/cleaning, drying, packaging, transportation
and storage depending upon the commodity.
The losses in selected cereals, pulses and oilseeds were found in the ranges of
3.9-6%, 4.3-6.1% and 2.8-10.1% respectively.