Question : Foreign Investment in Marketing and Cold Storage

(a) whether the Government is aware that the horticulture sector in the country is facing huge losses due to post-harvest wastages and lack of cold storages for them, if so, the details of the estimated losses of the fruits and vegetables production during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government is considering to develop a system through horticultural research and invention to make it possible flowering of fruit orchards in a phased manner so that the crop can also be harvested in a phased manner to reduce wastage, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is considering to set up more cold storages in various States of the country, if so, the details thereof, State-wise including the present capacity of cold storages in various States of the country, details thereof, State-wise;

(d) the details of the assistance provided by the Government to various States for setting up of cold storages during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(e) whether the Government is considering to promote FDI in marketing and cold storage of agricultural produce, if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the other steps taken by the Government to bring down the wastages of perishable fruits and vegetables?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)


(a): 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), on “Assessment of Quantitative Harvest and

Contd…2/-

-2-


Post-Harvest Losses of Major Crops and Commodities in India”, published in 2015, estimated that quantum of quantitative harvest and post harvest losses of agricultural produce were in the range of 4.65% to 5.99% (cereals), 6.36% to 8.41% (pulses), 3.08% to 9.96% (oil seeds), 6.70% to 15.88% (fruits), 4.58% to 12.44% (vegetables), 5.23% to 10.52% (fish), 2.71% (meat), 6.74% (Poultry) and 0.92% (milk).

(b): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have standardized the flowering regulation in banana, citrus, grapes, guava, mango, papaya, pineapple, pomegranate and strawberry.



(c): Government, through various schemes/ mission, is providing financial assistance for creation of additional cold storage/cold chain capacities in the country. As on 31.03.2016, about 34 million MT capacity of Cold storage/cold chain infrastructure have been assisted/created in various parts of the country. State wise cold storage capacity created is at Annexure - I.

(d): The details of assistance provided by the Government to various States for setting up of cold storages during the last three years and the current year, State-wise is at Annexure – II.

(e): 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is allowed under automatic route for setting up storage and warehousing including warehousing of agriculture products with refrigeration under automatic route. Further, 100% FDI under Government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured or produced in India is permitted.

(f): The Government is implementing the following programmes to reduce wastages of perishables fruits and vegetables 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

Under these programmes, financial assistance is provided to farmers/entrepreneurs for creation of post harvest infrastructure which includes setting up cold storages/cold chain infrastructure.