Lok Sabha Question No. 3044 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Wastage of Fruits and Vegetables
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: OM BIRLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3044

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST    MARCH, 2017

## WASTAGE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

## 3044.    SHRI OM BIRLA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that fruits and vegetables got wasted due to non-availability of market and lack of processing, packing, distribution and consumption and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  effectively  utilize  huge  quantity  of  fruits and vegetable wastes as livestock feed and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to increase the processing for fruits and vegetables in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (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),  published  in  2015.    The  study  estimated  that  quantum  of quantitative harvest and post harvest losses of fruits and vegetables were in the range of 6.70% to  15.88%  (fruits)  and  4.58%  to  12.44%  (vegetables)  due  to      various  reasons  such  as harvesting, cleaning, sorting/grading, packaging, transportation, storage channels weight loss in storage etc.
- (b): Excess vegetable and fruit wastage like apple, tomato, potato, pineapple, carrots etc. are already  used  as  feed  resources.    The  processing  technologies/models  are  also  available  to convert  or  preserve  them  as  good  feed  resource.    Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  National  Institute  of  Animal  Nutrition  and  Physiology  (NIANP)  has  developed  Pineapple  fruit residue storage based total mixed ration for livestock feeding and is promoting the technology. The States have been advised by this Ministry for creation of awareness amongst farmers & processors  for  conversion  of  fruit  and  vegetable  waste  as  livestock  feed.    Further,  Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI) - ICAR has initiated a pilot project on Potato haulm for ensiling to use as livestock feed.

Department  of  Animal  Husbandry,  Dairy  and  Fisheries  (DADF)  has  already  taken necessary  steps  to  increase  feed  and  fodder  production  in  various  parts  of  the  country  by providing financial assistance to the farmers/cooperatives under Centrally Sponsored National Livestock Mission.

(c): Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) which includes assistance for establishment of processing units in North Eastern and Himalayan States.  The assistance is provided as 50% credit  linked  back  ended  subsidy  for  processing  units  involved  in  horticulture  crops  including fruits and vegetable processing.

Besides, Ministry of Food Processing Industries is also implementing various programmes for processing of fruits and vegetables like Mega Food Park and Integrated cold chain which includes IQF etc.

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