Lok Sabha Question No. 387 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-27
Subject: Food Wastage and Post-Harvest Losses
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri  Chhotelal, Shri Zia Ur Rehman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *387

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH, 2025

## FOOD WASTAGE AND POST-HARVEST LOSSES

## *387.   SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN: SHRI CHHOTELAL

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that food wastage and post-harvest losses have increased to a significant percentage of total agricultural produce every year and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the initiatives proposed by the Government to reduce food wastage and improve food processing infrastructure in the country; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  realizes  that  a  robust  food  processing  sector  is  essential  for enhancing  farmers'  income  and  promoting  exports  and  if  so,  the  details  of  the  steps taken/proposed to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI CHIRAG PASWAN)

- (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *387 FOR ANSWER ON 27 th  MARCH, 2025 REGARDING 'FOOD WASTAGE AND POST-HARVEST LOSSES'

- (a): As per studies conducted by Indian Council for Agricultural Research - Central Institute of Post-Harvest  Engineering  &  Technology  (ICAR-CIPHET),  2015  and  NABARD  Consultancy Service Pvt. Ltd (NABCONS), 2022, the estimated percentage of Harvest and Post-Harvest loss of various agricultural produce in India is as follows:
- (b)  &  (c): The  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  supports  the  creation  and expansion of the processing/preservation capacity through implementation of various schemes for the overall development of food processing sector, including creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet, to reduce post-harvest losses  and  create  higher  value-addition,  providing  better  returns  to  farmers,  creation  of employment opportunities, reducing wastage, increasing the processing level and enhancing the export of the processed foods. The schemes under MoFPI are as follows:
- i. Central Sector umbrella scheme- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
- ii. Centrally  sponsored  "PM  Formalization  of  Micro  Food  Processing  Enterprises  (PMFME) Scheme"
- iii. Central Sector Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industries (PLISFPI)

| Crops/ Commodities        | Estimated Percentage Loss       | Estimated Percentage Loss   |
|---------------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|                           | As per ICAR-CIPHET Study (2015) | As per NABCONS study (2022) |
| Cereals                   | 4.65 - 5.99                     | 3.89-5.92                   |
| Pulses                    | 6.36 - 8.41                     | 5.65-6.74                   |
| Oil Seeds                 | 3.08 - 9.96                     | 2.87-7.51                   |
| Fruits                    | 6.70-15.88                      | 6.02-15.05                  |
| Vegetables                | 4.58-12.44                      | 4.87-11.61                  |
| Plantation Crops & Spices | 1.18-7.89                       | 1.29-7.33                   |
| Milk                      | 0.92                            | 0.87                        |
| Fisheries (Inland)        | 5.23                            | 4.86                        |
| Fisheries (Marine)        | 10.52                           | 8.76                        |
| Meat                      | 2.71                            | 2.34                        |
| Poultry                   | 6.74                            | 5.63                        |
| Egg                       | 7.19                            | 6.03                        |

Food irradiation facilitates in reduction of post-harvest losses and wastage of perishable farm produce by enhancing shelf life. Food irradiation units are assisted under the Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure scheme, one of the component scheme of PMKSY. MoFPI

has approved 16 numbers of project proposals for setting up of multi-product food irradiation units across the Country till date. The total amount of Grants-in-aid of ₹ 112.99 Crore has been approved of which, ₹ 68.38 Crore has been released.

Further, The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has formed the Indian Food Sharing  Alliance  (IFSA)  with  an  aim  to  address  India's  food  waste  and  hunger  crisis  by integrating  various  partner  organizations,  food  recovery  agencies  and  NGOs.  IFSA  aims  to recover the surplus food generated, reduce the amount of food waste generated and increase the amount of safe and nutritious food donated to those in need. FSSAI has framed regulations 'Food Safety  and  Standards  (Recovery  and  Distribution  of  Surplus  Food)  Regulation,  2019' to promulgate food donation drive and prevent food loss and waste in India.

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