Lok Sabha Question No. 5038 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Setting-up of Cold Storage for Mangoes
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Thiru Thanga Tamilselvan

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5038

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 01 ST  APRIL, 2025

## SETTING-UP OF COLD STORAGE FOR MANGOES

5038. THIRU THANGA TAMILSELVAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to set up cold storage in Theni District of my  Parliamentary  Constituency  for  the  benefit  of  farmers  and  to  safeguard  the  Mango growers  to  store  their  products  as  cultivation  of  mango  is  undertaken  in  about  10,000 hectare  in  Theni  District  which  yields  more  than  130  tonnes  every  day  during  mango season from March to June every year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): Government does not setup cold storage of its own. However, 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 Tamil Nadu. 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  including Tamil Nadu on the basis of Annual Action Plan (AAP) received from States/UTs. The component  of  Cold  Storage  is  demand/entrepreneur  driven  for  which  Government assistance in the form of credit linked back 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.

Under the scheme, assistance is available to individuals, Groups of farmers/ growers/  consumers,  Partnership/  Proprietary  firms,  Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs), Farmers  Producer  Organization  (FPOs),  Companies,  Corporations,  Cooperatives, Cooperative Marketing  Federations, Local bodies, Agricultural  Produce  Market Committees (APMCs) & Marketing Boards and State Governments.

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 20000 MT is available.

Ministry of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  is  also  implementing  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  post-harvest  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,  Integrated Tribal Development Programme (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.

All  the  above  schemes  are  demand/entrepreneur driven through  commercial ventures for which government assistance is in the form of credit linked back ended subsidy/grant-in-aid  and  is  provided  based  on  the  proposals  received  from  the States/entrepreneur.

Further,  to  strengthen  agriculture  infrastructure  in  the  country,  Government has  launched  Agriculture  Infrastructure  Funds  (AIF)  of  Rs.  1.00  lakh  crore.  Under AIF, there is  provision for collateral free term loan  upto Rs. 2.00  crore  and interest subvention of 3% on the term loan availed for creation of post-harvest infrastructure including establishment of cold storages.

As  per  information  received  from  State  Horticulture  Mission,  Government  of Tamil Nadu, a Cold Storage unit of 4500 MT (Type-II) has already been established in Theni District.

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