Question : Farmers Training in Value Addition Facilities

(a) the details of the training being given to the farmers across the country including those of Rajasthan in regard to value addition of their crops and cold chain infrastructure facilities to create awareness and the value addition facilities available in ongoing cold chain projects, State-wise; and

(b) whether there is any mechanism to determine rates for providing cold storage facilities to
the farmers for the storage of their agricultural produce and value addition of their produce and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a): Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT) and National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship & Management (NIFTEM), which are academic institutions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries(MoFPI), organise training programmes including for value addition to crops and cold chain infrastructure. Further, MoFPI undertakes organising various events, including in Rajasthan, to create awareness among the different stakeholders about the various schemes being implemented by the Ministry, including the Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).
The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) under the Human Resource Development component of Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) provides assistance for conducting awareness programmes, farmers training, exposure visit, etc. to create awareness on the latest technologies being used in horticulture among farmers.

The State-wise details of value addition facilities including the State of Rajasthan available in the cold chain projects approved under the Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure are placed at ANNEXURE.

(b): MoFPI does not support standalone cold storage. However, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare provides financial assistance for setting up cold storage. DAC&FW have, however, informed that they do not involve themselves in fixation of rates for storage and value addition of agricultural/horticultural produce for farmers to avail cold storage facility.
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