Lok Sabha Question No. 3774 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-16
Subject: Cold Storage for Potatoes
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Subrata Pathak

O.I.H

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3774

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16 TH   JULY, 2019

## COLD STORAGE FOR POTATOES

3774.    SHRI  SUBRAT  PATHAK:

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

- (a) whether there is any scheme for establishing warehouses/cold storages for storage  of potatoes    in    Kannauj    district  which  is  a  leading  district  among  the  top  potato    production districts  in  Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) whether   the   Government proposes to take special steps in Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh for safeguarding the  interests  of  potato  growers  whose excess produce got rotten in the absence of cold storage and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to  set up  any food processing factory in Kannauj keeping  in  view  the  excessive production of potatoes in the district and if so, the time by which it is likely to be set up; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

( a) & (b): Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  &  Farmers  Welfare  (DAC&FW)  under Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH)  scheme  is  extending  financial assistance for taking up various activities related to development of horticulture including post harvest management. Credit linked back ended subsidy of 35% of the project cost in general areas  and  50%  in  case  of  hilly  and  schedule  areas  is  available  for  creation  of  post-harvest management infrastructure which includes cold storage for perishables including potatoes. The component is demand/ entrepreneur driven from entrepreneurs, private companies, cooperatives, farmers groups etc.

As  per  the  report  from  State  Government,  during  the  year  2018-19,  Kannauj  district produced 1022010 MT potato from an area of 46455 hectare. There are 126 Cold Storage in private sector with capacity of 13.05 lakh MT in Kannauj, out of which 11.09 lakh MT produce was stored in cold storage. As such, Kannauj district has more storage capacity than production and there is no report of potato rotting due to shortage of storage space.

(c) & (d): Ministry of Food Processing Industries have launched Operation Greens Scheme - a scheme for integrated development of Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) crops. This scheme provides Price Stabilization Measures as short term measure under which,  during glut situation, 50% of cost of transportation and 50% of cost of hiring appropriate storage facilities are being provided  as  subsidy  at  the  time  of  harvest.  Further,  the  scheme  envisages  setting  up  of Integrated Value Chain  Development Projects as a long-term strategy, which include components  like  Capacity  building  of  FPOs,  Quality  production,  Post-harvest  processing facilities, Agri-logistics, Marketing/ consumption points. The Scheme provides for setting up of pilot  projects  in  selected  3  to  4  clusters  for  each  TOP  crop  in  major  producing  States  for development of integrated value chain, with the grant-in-aid at the rate of 50% (70% for FPOs) of the eligible project cost in all areas, subject to maximum ₹ 50 crore per project.

Six districts in Uttar Pradesh, including Kannauj have been selected as identified clusters for setting up of integrated value chain development of potato after consultation with the State Government.

Further, State Government is providing 10 percent additional assistance for Mega Food Park  Projects  costing  more  than  Rs.50.00  crore.  Under  this  scheme,  State  is  also  providing interest subvention to food processing industries.

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