Question : Wastage of Fruits and Vegetables

(a) whether it is true that the value of annual wastage of fruits and vegetables was estimated at Rs. 13,309 crore and if the wastage value of rice, wheat, cereals and other foodgrains declared as unfit for human consumption are taken into account, it would go upto Rs. 44,000 crore a year, if so, the details thereof and the norms in which this vast wastage of foodgrains was disposed off;

(b) the steps taken at Union Government and State Government levels to put an end to such loss every year on an average and for speedy disposal of stored foodgrains and vegetables; and

(c) the details of the new instructions issued to all the States and the Ministries/organisations of the Union Government to reduce such heavy loss of foodgrains, vegetables, cereals, etc.?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): Ministry of Food Processing Industries had commissioned a study on “Assessment of Quantitative Harvest and Post-Harvest Losses of Major Crops and Commodities in India” conducted by ICAR – Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), Ludhiana. The study was commissioned in 2012 and the final report submitted on 31.03.2015. The study has estimated that annual value of harvest and post-harvest losses of major agricultural produces at national level was of the order of Rs.92,651 crore calculated using production data of 2012-13 at 2014 wholesale prices. The percentage of harvest and post-harvest losses as assessed by the study are at Annexure-I.

(b) & (c): The Government of India has recently approved a new Central sector scheme Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (Scheme for agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro Processing Cluster) with an allocation of Rs.6000 crore for the period 2016-20 conterminous with the 14th Finance Commission cycle. The Kisan SAMPADA Yojana will be implemented by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI). Kisan SAMPADA Yojana is a Comprehensive package for creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retain outlet. Besides, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) which includes assistance for creation of post harvest infrastructure.
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Ministry of Consumers Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Department of Food & Public Distribution issues uniform specifications for procurement of foodgrains for the Central Pool before the commencement of Rabi and Kharif Marketing Seasons. These uniform specifications are circulated to Food Corporation of India (FCI) and all State Governments/Agencies with instructions to ensure that foodgrains are procured strictly in accordance with the uniform specifications. Regular inspections of the stock/godowns are under taken by qualified and technical staff. The principle of “first in first out” (FIFO) is also followed to avoid longer storage of foodgrains in godowns.

Further, FCI follows the procedures for disposal of damaged/non useable foodgrains. Categorization of damaged foodgrains is based on percentage of sound grains and a three tier categorization at depot level, regional level and zonal level is done. General Manager (Region) is competent authority for disposal of damaged foodgrains on the basis of various parameters which includes tender/auction price and reserve price, quantity of accrual of damaged foodgrains.