Lok Sabha Question No. 2633 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Losses to Perishable Crops due to inadequate Storage
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2633

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## LOSSES TO PERISHABLE CROPS DUE TO INADEQUATE STORAGE

2633. SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE:

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

- (a) the data of the quantity and value of perishable crops specifically onions, lemons and bananas produced by farmers along with the losses of harvested crop due to inadequate storage facilities during the last three years;
- (b)  the  information  on  the  market  rates  received  by  farmers  for  the  aforementioned perishable crops during their respective harvesting months as well as the average market rate throughout the year;
- (c) the overview of any schemes or special incentives available for constructing necessary special  type  storage  facilities  for  these  perishable  crops  such  as  onions,  lemons  and bananas, district-wise; and
- (d) the details on any studies conducted regarding the potential for extending the shelf life of  perishable  crops  including  onions,  lemons  and  bananas  produced  by  farmers,  a onetime investment and benefit to farmers at a large?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a): Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India, commissioned  a  'Study  to  Determine  Post-Harvest  Losses  of  Agricultural  Produce  in India'. The report, submitted in 2022 based on 2020-21 data, estimates that fruits and vegetables production was 255.56 MMT, with post-harvest losses of 19.33 MMT valued at  ₹57,004.15  crore.  For  banana,  citrus  (including  lemon),  and  onion,  production  and estimated physical and monetary losses for 2020-21 are as follows:

| Produce                |   Production in MMT |   Losses in MMT (2022 report of NABCON) |   Losses in Rs. Crores (2022 report of NABCON) |   Savings over 2015 report of CIPHET (Rs. in crore) |
|------------------------|---------------------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Banana                 |               33.06 |                                    2.5  |                                        5777.01 |                                              145    |
| Citrus including lemon |               14.24 |                                    1.1  |                                        4347.13 |                                             1116.38 |
| Onion                  |               26.64 |                                    1.93 |                                        5156.32 |                                              667.62 |

Due to implementation of schemes in mission mode, adoption of improved postharvest technology, better storage infrastructure and enhanced training and awareness among farmers, post-harvest losses have been reduced significantly compared to earlier estimates.

(b)  &  (c):    In  India,  harvesting  and  arrival  of  banana,  lemon  and  onion  continues throughout the year.   Month-wise all-India weighted average modal prices, along with average  prices  received  by  farmers  during  the  respective  harvesting  months,  are  at Annexure.

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing several schemes under which  financial assistance is provided for creation of storage and  post-harvest infrastructure for agricultural produce, including perishable crops such as onions, lemons and bananas.  These include Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) under ISAM - for establishment of marketing and storage infrastructure in APMCs, cooperatives and the private sector, Mission for Integrated Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH) -for construction and modernization of cold storage facilities  for horticultural produce and Agriculture  Infrastructure  Fund  (AIF)  under  which  concessional  credit  with  interest subvention and credit guarantee is provided for creation of post-harvest facilities such as cold storages, ripening chambers and pack-houses.

In  addition,  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  supports  supply-chain  and processing infrastructure through their Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana( PMKS), Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME) and  Production  Linked  Incentive  Scheme  for  Food  Processing  Industry  (PLIS-FPI) scheme.

These  interventions  aim  to  minimize  wastage,  promote  scientific  storage  and processing, enhance export potential and improve farmers' income.

(d): Scientific  storage  and  control  of  temperature  and  humidity  extend  shelf  life  of perishable crops including onions, lemons & bananas.  AIF and MIDH have supported such initiatives.  Additionally, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAR) Start-up Program also supports innovations for better post harvest management.

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## Annexure

Month-wise all-India weighted average modal prices, along with average prices

|                      | Price (Rs./Qtl.)   | Price (Rs./Qtl.)   | Price (Rs./Qtl.)   |
|----------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Month                | Banana             | Lemon              | Onion              |
| December-2024        | 3574               | 3936               | 2716               |
| January-2025         | 3893               | 3802               | 2086               |
| February-2025        | 4168               | 4492               | 2090               |
| March-2025           | 3927               | 7070               | 1671               |
| April-2025           | 3640               | 7063               | 1115               |
| May-2025             | 3341               | 4218               | 1014               |
| June-2025            | 3443               | 2704               | 1225               |
| July-2025            | 3112               | 2156               | 1235               |
| August-2025          | 3270               | 2753               | 1255               |
| September-2025       | 2583               | 2852               | 1077               |
| October-2025         | 2349               | 2391               | 1059               |
| November-2025        | 4134               | 3330               | 1066               |
| Average yearly Price | 3453               | 3897               | 1467               |

Source: Agmarknet