Question : Increase in Capacity of Godowns and Cold Storages

(a) the number of cold storage units set up in the country during the last three years to prevent wastage of fruits and vegetables, the details thereof, State-wise;

(b) whether the current number of cold storage units are adequate to accommodate a large amount of fruits and vegetables being produced in the country; and

(c) if not, the steps taken by the Government to increase the number of cold storage units in the country along with the funds allocated by the Government for this purpose during the last three years and the current year, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): State wise cold storage units setup under National Horticulture Board (NHB) and National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in the country during the last three years to prevent wastage of fruits and vegetables is at Annexure – I.

(b): A recent study on All India Cold-chain Infrastructure Capacity (AICIC-2015) conducted by NCCD-NABCONS assessed demand and reported the gaps in end-to-end connectivity. As per this report status of cold chain infrastructure created and required is tabulated as follows:

S. No. Component Existing Capacity(2014) Approximate Requirement
1. Integrated Pack Houses 250 numbers 70,000 numbers
2. Reefer Trucks <10,000 numbers 62,000 numbers
3. Cold stores (Bulk & distribution hubs) 32 million tonnes 35 million tonnes
4. Ripening Chambers 800 numbers 9000 numbers












Contd…2/-




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Study reveals that future focus should be for creation of pack houses, refrigerated transport, ripening chambers instead of standalone large cold storage/CA store projects.
(c): The Government is implementing the following schemes/missions for increasing storage capacity of perishables in the country:

i. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) of DAC&FW
ii. Integrated cold chain Scheme of MOFPI:
iii. Scheme of Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under Ministry of Commerce
iv. Scheme of National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) under DAC &FW
v. Grameen Bhandaran Yojana of DAC&FW

Under these schemes, financial assistance in the form of grants in aid are provided to farmers/entrepreneurs for setting up cold storages/cold chain infrastructure.

Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for development of Horticulture in the country which includes assistance for creation of post-harvest infrastructure (PHM) including establishment of cold storages, processing units, pack houses, pre-cooling units, controlled atmosphere storage, reefer vans, Integrated Cold chain and setting up of ripening chambers.

Under Post harvest component credit linked back ended subsidy @ 35% to @ 50% of the project cost is available. The component is demand/entrepreneur driven. Assistance for creation of cold storage/cold chain component is available to individuals, group of farmers/growers/consumers, partnership/ proprietary firms, self help groups, farmers producer organizations, companies, corporations, cooperatives, cooperative marketing federations, agricultural produce market committees & marketing boards, state governments and local bodies like panchayats.

The funds are allocated to States based on the annual action plan for holistic development of horticulture including cold storages under PHM component. The States have been advised to utilize 35% - 40% of the allocated funds for creation of post-harvest infrastructure including cold storages during the current financial year.

The funds allocated to the States under MIDH which includes cold chain during last three years and current years is at Annexure – II.