India Strengthens Cold-Chain Infrastructure to Reduce Post-Harvest Food Losses

The Ministry of Food processing Industries (MoFPI) had commissioned a study through NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. (NABCONS), namely, “Study to determine Post harvest losses of Agri Produce in India” in 2022 with reference year 2020-22. The details of category wise estimated quantity loss and monetary loss of various commodities reported in the study are as under:

*For eggs, production in million numbers and price per egg were taken.

Under the Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (Cold Chain) Scheme, one of the components of Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana of MoFPI, the State-wise details of the availability of cold storages and cold chains including the capacity is placed at Annexure.

So far, MoFPI has not undertaken any specific study to quantify the direct impact of food loss on food prices and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, it is generally acknowledged that reduction in post-harvest losses helps enhance overall supply efficiency, stabilise market prices and curb avoidable emissions associated with food waste.

The Cold Chain scheme is ongoing and demand driven, project proposals are invited from time to time, based on availability of funds under the scheme, across the country including the Southern region by floating Expression of Interests (EoIs) on the Ministry’s website.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Shri Ravneet Singh in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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CMC-MoFPI

ANNEXURE

State-wise details of Cold storages and Cold chains