Lok Sabha Question No. 5073 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Wastage of Fruits and Vegetables
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BHARAT SINGH

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5073

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  MARCH, 2018

## WASTAGE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

5073.   SHRI BHARAT SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  several  thousands  tonnes  of  fruits  and  vegetables  have  been  wasted  due  to improper  maintenance  of  warehouses/cold  storages  located  in  various  States  of  the  country during the last five years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, Statewise;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to develop modern technology and set up laboratories for proper upkeep of vegetables and fruits in warehouses/cold storages; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## 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) & (b): 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)  which  was  published  in  2015.  As  per  the  study  quantum  of quantitative harvest and post harvest losses were estimated in the range of 6.70% to 15.88% for fruits and 4.58% to 12.44% for vegetables. As per this study, these losses occur at various stages during post harvest. The losses in the cold storage for fruits and vegetables have been assessed to be in the range of 0.01% to 0.25% and 0.0% to 0.30% respectively. The losses at different stage after harvest are as under:

| S. No.   | Stages          | Range of losses (%)   | Range of losses (%)   |
|----------|-----------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
|          |                 | Fruits                | Vegetables            |
| 1.       | Harvesting      | 0.98 - 5.33           | 0.99 - 3.16           |
| 2.       | Collection      | 0.26 - 0.42           | 0.04 - 0.52           |
| 3.       | Sorting/Grading | 1.46 - 4.95           | 0.99 - 5.34           |
| 4.       | Packaging       | 0.09 - 0.34           | 0.06 - 0.38           |
| 5.       | Transport       | 0.42 - 1.91           | 0.51 - 1.75           |
| 6.       | Farm Storage    | 0.01 - 0.23           | 0.05 - 0.66           |
| 7.       | Cold Storage    | 0.01 - 0.25           | 0.00 - 0.30           |
| 8.       | Wholesaler      | 0.57 - 1.62           | 0.31 - 1.26           |
| 9.       | Retailer        | 0.34 - 2.08           | 0.11 - 1.63           |
| 10.      | Processing      | 0.00 - 0.25           | 0.00 - 0.17           |

(c) & (d): Government  of  India  is  implementing  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of Horticulture  (MIDH)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  SAMPADA  Yojana  of  Ministry  of  Food Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  under  which  assistance  is  available  for  establishment  of  cold storage/cold chain.

Under MIDH, the component of cold storage is demand/entrepreneur-driven from among entrepreneurs,  private  companies,  cooperatives,  farmers  groups  etc.  through  commercial ventures for which assistance @35% of admissible project cost in general areas and @50% in hilly and schedule area is available as credit linked and back ended subsidy.

MIDH  also provides credit linked back ended assistance for modernization of refrigeration and insulation system of existing cold storages. Assistance is available @ 50% of cost  for  modernisation.  For  modernization  of  refrigeration,  the  maximum  admissible  cost  is Rs. 100.00 lakh @ Rs. 2500/MT and for modernization of insulation the maximum admissible cost is Rs. 100.00 lakh @ Rs. 1500/MT.

***************