(a) whether it is a fact that huge quantum of fruits and vegetables go waste in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the quantum of fruits and vegetables got wasted during the last three years;
(c) whether the Government has taken any steps to control the transportation cost of fruits and vegetables, which have a lower shelf life; and
(d) the number of cold storage units the Government has acquired or established in the last three years?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) & (b): A study was commissioned by Ministry of Food Processing Industries and carried out by Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering & Technology (CIPHET), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) which was published in 2015. As per the study quantum of quantitative harvest and post harvest losses were estimated in the range of 6.70% to 15.88% for fruits and 4.58% to 12.44% for vegetables. Losses at different stage after harvest are as under:
S. No. Stages Range of losses (%)
Fruits Vegetables
1. Harvesting 0.98 – 5.33 0.99 – 3.16
2. Collection 0.26 - 0.42 0.04 – 0.52
3. Sorting/Grading 1.46 – 4.95 0.99 – 5.34
4. Packaging 0.09 – 0.34 0.06 – 0.38
5. Transport 0.42 – 1.91 0.51 – 1.75
6. Farm Storage 0.01 – 0.23 0.05 - 0.66
7. Cold Storage 0.01 – 0.25 0.00 – 0.30
8. Wholesaler 0.57 – 1.62 0.31 – 1.26
9. Retailer 0.34 – 2.08 0.11 – 1.63
10. Processing 0.00 – 0.25 0.00 – 0.17
Contd…2/-
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(c): Government of India is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kissan SAMPADA Yojana under which assistance is available for various components including incentives for refrigerated transport vehicles for transportation of fruits and vegetables.
(d): During the last three years, 700 cold storage units have been created in the country under various schemes of Government.
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