(a) whether a large quantity of vegetables and fruits get perished in the absence of adequate cold storage facilities in the country;
(b) if so, whether any assessment has been made in this
regard;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government proposes to construct new
cold storages in the country; and
(e) if so, the details of financial assistance proposed
to be given for new cold storages?
THE MINISTER OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES(SHRI SUBODH KANT SAHAI)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 430 FOR 9TH DECEMBER, 2010
REGARDING COLD STORAGE
(a) to (c): Yes, Sir. The data on losses of agricultural
and horticultural produce in the country is not centrally
maintained by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries
(MFPI). However, the level of wastage of agricultural
food items is estimated to be 30-35% amounting to about
Rs. 50,000/- crores in the country as a whole, occurring
at various stages of handling after harvesting due to
fragmented farming, provisions in Agricultural Produce
Marketing (Development & Regulation) Act, lack of
adequate post-harvest infrastructure such as lack of cold
chain facilities, transportation, proper storage
facilities etc. The loss due to wastages could be
reduced by promoting the development of food processing
industries, strengthening of post-harvest infrastructure
and filling the gaps in the supply chain.
In order to increase level of processing and to
promote food processing industries to exploit both the
domestic and international market potential for processed
food products, Vision 2015 Document has been finalized by
the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI), which
envisages tripling the size of the processed food sector
by increasing the level of processing of perishables from
6% to 20% value addition from 20% to 35% and share in
global food trade from 1.5% to 3% by 2015. An integrated
strategy for promotion of agribusiness-Vision, Strategy
and Action Plan for the Food Processing Sector has also
been approved by the Government.
The fixing of time limit to stop wastage of
vegetable is not possible at this stage, however, to
prevent such wastage, Ministry of Food Processing
Industries (MFPI) has been implementing various schemes
for promotion and development of food processing
industries in the country. MFPI through its various
schemes for financial assistance and other promotional
measures, facilitates creation of food related
infrastructure including processing facilities aimed at
reducing wastages, enhancing value addition and
increasing shelf life.
(d): Yes, Sir
(e): To encourage setting up of cold chain
facilities in the country, Government is operating
several Plan Schemes under which financial assistance is
provided for setting up of cold storages / cold chain
facilities. Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI)
has also a Plan Scheme for Cold Chain, Value Addition and
Preservation Infrastructure during the 11th Plan to
provide financial assistance to project proposals
received from public / private organizations for cold
chain infrastructure development. The scheme envisages
financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid @ 50% of
the total cost of plant and machinery and technical civil
works in general areas and 75% for North Eastern Region
and difficult areas subject to a maximum of Rs.10.00
crore. The initiatives are aimed at filling the gaps in
the supply chain, strengthening of cold chain
infrastructure, establishing value addition with
infrastructural facilities like sorting, grading,
packaging and processing for horticulture including
organic produce, marine, dairy, poultry, etc.
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation as well as
Ministry of Commerce and State Governments also provide
financial assistance for cold storages under their
respective schemes through their agencies like National
Horticulture Board (NHB), Agricultural and Processing
Food Products Development Authority (APEDA), National
Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation through
State Governments scheme provides financial assistance
under National Horticulture Mission (NHM) for
construction / modernization / expansion of cold storages
@40% of capital cost of the project in general areas and
@55% in case of hilly and schedules areas for a maximum
storage capacity of 5000 MT per project @Rs. 6000 per MT
and for CA storages @Rs. 32000 per MT for 5000 MT storage
capacity.
Ministry of Agriculture also provides back ended
capital investment subsidy through National Horticulture
Board (NHB) for construction / modernization / expansion
of cold storages @40% of capital cost of the project in
general areas and @55% in case of hilly and schedules
areas for a maximum storage capacity of 5000 MT per
project @Rs. 6000 per MT and for CA storages @Rs. 32000
per MT for 5000 MT storage capacity.
Ministry of Commerce provides financial assistance
through Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority (APEDA) for setting up specialized
storage facilities such as CA / MA cold storages, deep
freezers etc. @25% of the cost subject to maximum of Rs.
10 lakh per beneficiaries.
As per the information available with Directorate of
Marketing & Inspection (DMI), Ministry of Agriculture,
total capacity of cold storage in the country as on
31.12.2007 was 23.33 Million MT, which has been increased
to 24.45 Million MT as on 31.12.2009 on account of the
initiatives taken by Government.