Lok Sabha Question No. 3338 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-06
Subject: Cold Storages and Cold Chains
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, BHAGWANTH KHUBA, RAMCHARAN BOHARA, PINAKI MISRA, ANTO  ANTONY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3338

ANSWERED ON 6 TH  DECEMBER, 2016

## COLD STORAGES AND COLD CHAINS

3338.  SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA: SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA: SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA: SHRI PINAKI MISRA: SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  launched  any  schemes  for  setting  up  of  integrated  cold chains and cold storages in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the aims, objectives, salient features and  criteria fixed  and  procedure  adopted  for  selecting locations and providing funds for setting up of the same thereunder;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  recently  launched  a  web  based  system  for  submitting applications seeking financial assistance for setting up of integrated cold chains and cold storages in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether these cold storages/cold chains are operating at no profit  no loss  basis  for the benefit of small and marginal farmers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  these  infrastructures  also  have  proper  connectivity  through  various  modes  of transport including road and rails and if not, the reasons therefor and the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) whether each district in the country does not have adequate facility of cold storage and exorbitant charges are taken from the farmers for using cold storage and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a)      Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  is  implementing  the  Central  Sector  Scheme  for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure with the objective of arresting post-harvest losses of horticulture & non-horticulture produce. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided in the form of grant-in-aid of maximum Rs10 crore per project for setting up of integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure facilities without any break from the farm gate to the consumer. The integrated  cold  chain  and  preservation  infrastructure  can  be  set  up  by  individuals,  groups  of entrepreneurs,  cooperative  societies,  Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs),  Farmer  Producer  Organizations (FPOs), NGOs, Central/State PSUs, etc. The scheme is primarily private sector driven and proposals under this  scheme are  invited  through  Expression of  Interest  (EOI).  The  scheme  is  available  in  all States/UTs and rural & urban areas. Ministry has revised the operational guidelines of the Scheme for Integrated  Cold  Chain  and  Value  Addition  Infrastructure  with  effect  from  29.08.2016.    Details regarding  objectives,  salient  features  and  criteria  fixed  and  procedures  are  given  in  the  revised operational  guidelines.  The  revised  operational  guidelines  are  uploaded  on  the  Ministry's  Website www.mofpi.nic.in .

In addition, National Horticulture Mission (NHM), National Horticulture Board (NHB), and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) under Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Agricultural and  Processed  Food  Products  Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA)  under  Department  of Commerce,  Ministry  of  Commerce  and  Industries,  Government  of  India  are  also  providing assistance for setting up cold storages under their respective schemes.

- (b) National Horticulture Board under Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has introduced a system for online filing of application  on  its  website  www.nhb.gov.in.  The  home  page  of  the  website  provides  a  link 'Apply online and Track Status here'.   After filing online application, applicant can take print out of  his  online  application  form.  It  is  necessary  for    the  applicants to  fill  up  and  submit  the detailed application form in prescribed format apart from online application form.
- (c) Integrated  cold  chain  projects  assisted  by  the  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries under the Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure are mainly set up by private sector promoters. These projects are operating on commercial basis.
- (d) The location of the project is decided by the entrepreneur based on technical and financial viability . Ministry however, gives weightage during approval of integrated cold chain projects, to criteria  like  suitability  of  project  site,  availability  of  raw  material,  connectivity  through  road, railways etc.
- (e) Dr. Saumitra Chaudhuri Committee constituted by the erstwhile Planning Commission in 2012 had indicated cold storage requirement of 61 million tonnes. The available capacity of cold storage was estimated at around 32 million tonnes in the country, thus, the gap being around 29 million tonnes.

National Center for Cold Chain Development (NCCD) under Department of Agriculture, Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare,  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  had  also commissioned a study on 'All India Cold Chain Infrastructure Capacity (Assessment of Status & Gap)'  conducted  by  NABARD  Consultancy  Services  Pvt.  Ltd.(NABCONS).  As  per  the  gap study, the cold chain requirement in the country stands at 35 million tonnes of cold storage vis-a vis  available  capacity  of  32  million  tonnes.  This  study  however,  excluded  the  requirement  for milk, meat, marine and processed products.

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