Lok Sabha Question No. 1101 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-22
Subject: Post Harvest Losses of Fruits, Vegetables and Foodgrains
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: MAUSAM NOOR, ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1101

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  22 ND  NOVEMBER, 2016

## POST HARVEST LOSSES OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND FOODGRAINS

1101.   SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR: ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that around 40 to 50 percent of fruits, vegetables and foodgrains are damaged  primarily  due to insect infestation, microbiological contamination physiological changes due to sprouting and ripening and lack of cold storages;
- (b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to address the issue of post harvest losses of fruits, vegetables and foodgrains in the country; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to make any action plan to avoid the wastages of these produce, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ Àã·¾ã ½ãâ¨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), 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) and 0.92% (milk).
- (b) & (c): In order to address the issue of post harvest losses of Fruits and Vegetables, Government is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

Under MIDH assistance is provided for Post Harvest Management (PHM) and food processing. Post Harvest Management includes establishment of cold storages, primary/mobile  processing  units,  pack  houses,  pre-cooling  units,  controlled  atmosphere storage, reefer vans, and setting up to ripening chambers. These components are demand &  entrepreneur  driven  for  which  credit  linked  back  ended  subsidy  is  available  through respective  State  Horticulture  Missions.  Under  PHM  component,  credit  linked  back  ended subsidy @ 35% in general areas and 50% hilly and tribal areas is available for creation of various types of post-harvest infrastructure.

In order to address the issue of post harvest losses of food grains, Government is implementing  Agricultural  Marketing  Infrastructure  (AMI),  a  sub-scheme  of  Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing (ISAM). The scheme is effective from 01.04.2014 after subsuming erstwhile Grameen Bhandaran Yojana (GBY) and Scheme for

Development/Strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading & Standardization (AMIGS).

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