Lok Sabha Question No. 330 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-05
Subject: Support to Potato Cultivators in Assam
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Abdul Khaleque

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 330

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## SUPPORT TO POTATO CULTIVATORS IN ASSAM

330. SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that farmers of lower Assam suffered huge losses in potato cultivation and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether  the  Government  will  make  arrangements  for  building  of  cold  storages  to support proper storage of agri produce in the area and if so, the details thereof; and whether the Government will make necessary arrangements for transportation of the

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a):  Government of Assam has reported losses in potato cultivation which is due to nonreplacement of old less productive varieties which have low market demand like local seeds and  Pokhraj.  To  overcome  this  situation,  Government  of  Assam  has  introduced  several processable and table varieties which have good market demand.

(b):  Government  is  implementing  various  schemes  under  which  financial  assistance  is available for setting up of cold storage for perishable horticultural produce throughout the

- country including Assam.

Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) under which financial assistance is provided for various horticulture activities including construction/Expansion/ Modernization of cold storages of capacity up to 5000 MT in the country wherein assistance in the form of credit linked back

- (c) produce to other States?

ended subsidy is available at the rate of 35% of the project cost in general areas and 50% of  the  project  cost  in  hilly  and  scheduled  areas  through  respective  State  Horticulture Missions. Besides,  National  Horticulture  Board  (NHB)  is  implementing  a  scheme  namely 'Capital Investment Subsidy for Construction/Expansion /Modernization of Cold Storages and  Storages  for  Horticulture  Products'.  Under  the  scheme,  credit  linked  back-ended subsidy at the rate of 35% of the capital cost of the project in general areas and 50% in case of  North  East,  hilly  &  scheduled  areas  for  construction/expansion/modernization  of  cold storage and Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage of capacity above 5000 MT and up to 10000 MT is available. In case of North East region, the units with capacity above 1000 MT

are also eligible for assistance.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) implements a Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain, Food Processing and Preservation Infrastructure as one of the components of Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Sampada  Yojana  (PMKSY)  with  the  objective  of  reducing  postharvest losses of horticulture and non-horticulture produce and providing remunerative price to farmers for their produce. Under the scheme, Ministry provides financial assistance in the form  of  grant-in-aid  at  the  rate  of  35%  for  general  areas  and  50%  for  North  East  and Himalayan States, ITDP areas and Islands for storage and transport infrastructure and at the  rate  of  50%  and  75%  respectively  for  value  addition  and  processing  infrastructure subject to a maximum grant-in-aid of Rs. 10.00 crore per project for setting up of integrated cold chain projects including irradiation facility. Standalone cold storages are not covered under the Scheme.

(c): Under  MIDH,  Government  also  provides  credit  linked  back-ended  subsidy  for Refrigerated Transport vehicles for transportation of perishable horticulture produce.

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