Question : FARM STORAGE FACILITIES

(a) whether the Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology has estimated that the poor farm storage facilities in the country costs, around Rs. 44000 crores to the nation on account of damage to agricultural produce;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether major losses had occurred during unit operations i.e. harvesting, collecting, sorting, grading, winnowing, cleaning, drying, packaging, transporting and storage; and

(d) if so, the action plan formulated to plug the above leakages and make up the deficiencies?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a), (b) & (c): A survey on estimation of post harvest losses was conducted in 106 districts of India with respect to 46 crops and commodities comprising 5 cereals, 4 pulses, 6 oilseeds, 8 fruits, 8 vegetables, 8 plantation crops and spices, 6 livestock produce and jaggery. The data collected by enquiry and by observations in the field were 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/sorting, winnowing/cleaning, drying, packaging, transportation and storage depending upon the commodity. The losses in selected cereals, pulses and oilseeds were found in the range of 3.9-6%, 4.3-6.1% and 2.8-10.1% respectively. The losses in selected fruits and vegetables were observed in the range of 5.8-18%. The average losses in inland and marine fisheries were 6.9% and 2.9% respectively. The losses in milk sector were 0.8% and meat and poultry sectors were 2.3% and 3.7% respectively.

Total economic value of the harvest and post harvest losses of crops and livestock produce based on the findings of the study has been estimated at about Rs. 44,000 crores at the national level. The amount was arrived at on the basis of wholesale price of the crop/commodity for the month of May, 2009.

(d): The Department of Agriculture operates a scheme ‘Grameen Bhandaran Yojana” under which financial assistance is provided to farmers and entrepreneurs for setting up of scientific storage facilities for agriculture and allied produce in rural areas with the objective of reducing post harvest looses amongst others. Due to the increased procurement of foodgrains and to reduce the storage under Cover and Plinth (CAP), the Government formulated a Scheme for construction of storage godowns through private entrepreneurs, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs).