Lok Sabha Question No. 2003 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-31
Subject: Initiatives for Reducing Food Waste
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Amrinder Singh Raja Warring

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2003

ANSWERED ON 31 ST  JULY, 2025

## INITIATIVES FOR REDUCING FOOD WASTE

## 2003. : SHRI AMRINDER SINGH RAJA WARRING:

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

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment study to quantify food loss occurring at the farm-gate, during transportation, and in the processing stage across major agrivalue chains in Punjab;
- (b) if  so,  the  key  findings,  particularly  concerning  perishable  commodities  like  fruits, vegetables and dairy;
- (c) whether the  Government is coordinating with other Ministries (such as Agriculture, Consumer  Affairs,  etc.)  and  State  Government  to  develop  a  cross-sectoral  action  plan  to minimize food loss;
- (d) if so, the details of such coordinating mechanisms;
- (e) whether  the  Government  plans  to  incentivize  innovations  such  as  decentralized processing,  improved  logistics  or  packaging  solutions  that  directly  address  food  waste reduction and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) had commissioned a study through NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. (NABCONS), namely, 'Study to determine Post harvest losses of Agri Produce in India' in 2022 with reference year 2020-22. The scope of the study was to assess post-harvest losses with respect to 54 crops/commodities across the country including the state of Punjab. The details of estimated loss of various agri-produce selected in Punjab during various stages of processing are as below:
- (c) & (d) MoFPI co-ordinates with other Ministries and organizations to unlock the full potential and holistic development of India's food processing sector. MoFPI co-ordinates with

| Sr.   | Crop Name   | Estimated Loss (%)   | Estimated Loss (%)   |
|-------|-------------|----------------------|----------------------|
| No.   |             | Farm Operations      | Market Level         |
| 1.    | Capsicum    | 1.49                 | 2.82                 |
| 2.    | Citrus      | 3.62                 | 1.78                 |
| 3.    | Green Pea   | 4.77                 | 1.89                 |
| 4.    | Maize       | 4.04                 | 2.87                 |
| 5.    | Milk        | 0.51                 | 0.12                 |
| 6.    | Mushroom    | 5.45                 | 1.25                 |
| 7.    | Muskmelon   | 3.23                 | 2.25                 |
| 8.    | Paddy       | 2.7                  | 0.45                 |
| 9.    | Potato      | 4.91                 | 0.66                 |
| 10.   | Sugarcane   | 3.15                 | 1.23                 |
| 11.   | Wheat       | 2.84                 | 1.71                 |

following Ministries, Departments, State Governments and autonomous bodies of Government of India:

-  MoFPI co-ordinates with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to boost exports and promote FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in the FPI sector. Further, the Ministry in co-ordination with Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development  Authority  (APEDA)  takes  initiatives  like  organising  buyerssellers meet, industry consultations, etc. for promotion of exports of processed food products.
-  MoFPI  co-ordinates  with  Ministry  of Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  for identifying clusters for promoting processing and value addition. Additionally, National  Bank  for Agriculture  and  Rural  Development  (NABARD)  is  also implementing schemes NABARD Special Food Processing Fund, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) - NABARD etc. for supporting FPI sector.
-  MoFPI  co-ordinates  with  FFSAI  on  various  issues  related  to  quality  and standards for the processed food products.
-  State  Governments  implements  PM  Formalisation  of  Micro  food  processing Enterprises (PMFME), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of MoFPI to enhance competitiveness of individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment, to promote formalization and to support individual enterprises / FPOs/ SHGs along the entire value chain. As a part of implementation of the said scheme there is regular consultation and coordination with the State Governments.

(e) & (f) MoFPI  is  actively  incentivizing  innovation  in  the  food  processing  sector, particularly  through  its  two  autonomous  institutions  namely,  National  Institute  of  Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli, Haryana (NIFTEM-K) and National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. This collaboration focuses on fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration to strengthen the sector.

NIFTEMs,  have  developed  a  technology,  called  SURAKSHIT,  that  transforms  agri-food processing waste into fully biodegradable, bio-based packaging material, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. This technology showcases a waste-to-resource approach, converting agro-waste into a useful product while promoting a circular economy.

In order to promote and ensure overall development of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been incentivizing setting up/expansion of related infrastructure  through  its  Central  Sector  schemes.  MoFPI  is  implementing  Pradhan  Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) Scheme, Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and Centrally Sponsored PMFME Scheme across the country for promoting food processing, improved logistics, etc that also addresses the issue of postharvest losses.

*****