Lok Sabha Question No. 4996 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Subsidies for Storage Facilities
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rajkumar Chahar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4996

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 ST  APRIL, 2025

## SUBSIDIES FOR STORAGE FACILITIES

4996.  SHRI RAJKUMAR CHAHAR: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state: (a) the details of steps taken to raise awareness among small and marginal farmers about the availability of subsidies for storage facilities; (b) whether the Government plan to increase the cap of 1.75 lakh for constructing onion storage facilities to accommodate rising costs, if so, the details thereof; and (c) whether  the  Government  plans  to  include  more  perishable  crops  under  the scheme in the future, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a):  To  create  awareness  on the  various scheme for subsidy for  storage among the farming community, the Mass Media Support to Agriculture Extension scheme is being implemented  through  Doordarshan,  DD  Kisan,  and  All  India  Radio  to  telecast  and broadcast  sponsored  agriculture  and  allied  sector  programs.  Under  the  scheme,  a Krishi  Darshan  program  of  30  minutes  is  telecast  three  days  a  week  through  18 regional  Doordarshan  Kendras.  Additionally,  three  programs, namely Krishi  Darshan, Hello Kisan, and Choupal Charcha, are aired three days a week on DD Kisan. On AIR, two programs are broadcast: i) Kisanvani program three days a week through 96 Rural AIR FM Radio Stations, and ii) Kisan Ki Baat three days a week through the AIR FM Gold Channel in Delhi (NCR).

In  addition to the above, a Focused Publicity & Awareness Campaign through audio-video spots is also being broadcast/telecast through DD, AIR and private TV and radio  channels  operating  at  the  national  and  regional  levels  for  the  benefit  of  the farming  community. Furthermore, publicity  and  awareness  campaigns  are conducted through  outdoor  advertising  as  well  as  print  advertisement  in  leading  newspapers across the country. In light of the growing spread of mobile and internet usage in rural areas,  social  media  platforms  such  as  Facebook,  X,  Instagram,  Threads,  YouTube, Linkedin,  WhatsApp,  and  Public  App  are  also being utilized for publicity  and awareness.

(b): Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  is  implementing  Mission  for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for holistic development of horticulture in  the country. Under the scheme, assistance was envisaged @ 50% of total cost of Rs. 1.75 lakh per unit for low-cost onion storage structure having capacity of 25 MT. In  view of the increase in input cost of various components during the last 10 years, MIDH guidelines alongwith cost norms have been revised wherein the cost of low  cost  onion  storage  has  been  increased  upto  Rs.  10,000/MT  for  the  maximum capacity of 25 MT wherein subsidy is provided @ 50% of eligible project cost. Apart from  this,  for  increasing  the  storage  capacity  of  onion  in  the  country,  necessary provisions  have also been made for promotion of low-cost onion storage with higher capacities i.e. upto a maximum capacity of 1000 MT. (c):  All  the  perishable  crops  horticulture  crops  are  covered  under  MIDH  scheme. However,  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  is  also  implementing  the Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure as one of the components of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana with the objective of reducing post-harvest losses of horticulture and non-horticulture produce and providing remunerative price to farmers for their produce.

Apart  from  the  above,  activities  for  development  of  perishable  crops  including horticulture can be carried out under other various Government schemes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas  Yojana (RKVY), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) etc.

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