Lok Sabha Question No. 4475 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-27
Subject: Insufficient Cold Storage Chain Facilities in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Eswarasamy K

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4475

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH, 2025

## INSUFFICIENT COLD STORAGE CHAIN FACILITIES IN TAMIL NADU

## 4475. SHRI ESWARASAMY K:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that 4 to 16 per cent of foodgrains and horticulture produce including fruits and vegetables perish due to a lack of sufficient cold storage chain facilities, processing, transportation and marketing facilities in the country particularly in Tamil Nadu and if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b) whether the Government is considering to create basic infrastructure at the panchayat and village levels; and
- (c) if so, the total number of cold chains established at the panchayat level during the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

(a) & (b): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has conducted a 'Study to Determine Post Harvest Losses of Agri Produce in India 2022' through NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS) Pvt. Ltd. The aforesaid study reported a cumulative post-harvest loss of 3.89- 5.92 per cent and 4.87-11.61 per cent for cereals and fruits & vegetables respectively. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing component schemes namely (i) Mega Food Parks  (MFP scheme- discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021), (ii) Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure (Cold Chain scheme), (iii) Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing Clusters (APC scheme), (iv) Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC scheme), (v) Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages (CBFL scheme- discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021) and (vi) Operation Greens (OG scheme) under the Central Sector umbrella scheme - Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2016-17 across the country (in panchayats/villages) including the State of Tamil Nadu.

MoFPI  does  not  create  basic  infrastructure  on  its  own  under  any  of  the  component  schemes  of PMKSY. The component schemes of PMKSY are demand driven and proposals are invited by floating Expression of Interest from time to time based on availability of funds. Under these component schemes, MoFPI provides financial support in the form of grants-in-aid/ subsidy for setting up of food processing projects  thereby  creating  both  processing  and  preservation  infrastructure  facilities  including  cold  chain infrastructure. The facilities created under the component schemes help in preservation & processing of raw farm produce and transport of raw & finished products thereby reducing wastage of farm produce including food grains and fruits & vegetables by increasing their shelf life.

(c): Under Cold Chain scheme, 69 projects and 17 projects have been operationalized across the country including panchayats/villages during the last three years (2021-22 to 2023-24) and current year (2024-25) till January, 2025 respectively.