Lok Sabha Question No. 868 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Initiatives  to Reduce Food Waste
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Babu Singh Kushwaha

## GOVERNMENTOF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 868

ANSWERED ON 04 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## INITIATIVES TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE

## 868.     SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHAWA:

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

- (a): whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that a large amount of food is wasted  every  year  and  a  significant  portion  of  agricultural  produce  is  lost  after harvesting;
- (b): if so, the details of the initiatives proposed by the Government to reduce food wastage and improve food processing infrastructure in the country; and
- (c): whether  the  Government  is  of  the  opinion  that  a  strong  food  processing  sector  is important for increasing farmers' income and encouraging exports and if so, the details of the steps being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c): As per studies conducted by Indian Council for Agricultural Research - Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering & Technology (ICAR-CIPHET), 2015 and NABARD Consultancy Service Pvt. Ltd (NABCONS), 2022, the estimated percentage of Harvest and Post-Harvest loss of various agricultural produce in India is as follows:

| Crops/ Commodities       | Estimated Percentage Loss       | Estimated Percentage Loss   |
|--------------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|                          | As per ICAR-CIPHET study (2015) | As per NABCONS study (2022) |
| Cereals                  | 4.65 - 5.99                     | 3.89-5.92                   |
| Pulses                   | 6.36 - 8.41                     | 5.65-6.74                   |
| Oil Seeds                | 3.08 - 9.96                     | 2.87-7.51                   |
| Fruits                   | 6.70-15.88                      | 6.02-15.05                  |
| Vegetables               | 4.58-12.44                      | 4.87-11.61                  |
| Plantation Crops &Spices | 1.18-7.89                       | 1.29-7.33                   |
| Milk                     | 0.92                            | 0.87                        |
| Fisheries (Inland)       | 5.23                            | 4.86                        |
| Fisheries (Marine)       | 10.52                           | 8.76                        |
| Meat                     | 2.71                            | 2.34                        |
| Poultry                  | 6.74                            | 5.63                        |
| Egg                      | 7.19                            | 6.03                        |

The  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  through  implementation  of  various initiatives  and  schemes  viz.  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  SAMPADA  Yojana  (PMKSY),  Prime Minister  Formalization  of  Micro  Food  Processing  Enterprises  (PMFME)  and  Production

Linked  Incentive  Scheme  for  Food  Processing  Industries  (PLISFPI)  aims  for  the  overall development  of  food  processing  sector.  Under  various  components  of  the  aforementioned schemes, the MoFPI provides financial assistance for creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlets. The infrastructure created and assistance provided aims at providing better returns to farmers, creation of employment opportunities, reducing wastage, increasing the processing levels and enhancing the export of the processed foods.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing Central Sector umbrella scheme - Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2017-18 across the country. The component schemes under PMKSY are (i) Mega Food Parks (MFP scheme-  discontinued  w.e.f.  01.04.2021),  (ii)  Integrated  Cold  Chain  &  Value  Addition Infrastructure (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). The schemes 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-inaid/ 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 efficient transport of raw & finished processed food products thereby reducing post-harvest losses of farm produce. A total of 1619 projects have been sanctioned across the country since inception under PMKSY, out of which 1181 projects have been completed as on 31 st October, 2025.

MoFPI provides financial, technical and business support for setting up/ upgradation of micro food processing enterprises in the country under "Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food  Processing Enterprises (PMFME)  Scheme.  The  support  is provided for potential entrepreneurs for all the products including One District One Product (ODOP) products under PMFME Scheme across the country. The scheme is operational from 2020-21 to 2025-26 with total outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore. As of 31st October 2025, 3,86,686 applications have been sent to banks and out of which 1,62,744 loans have been sanctioned with term loan amount of Rs. 13.23 thousand  crore.  Seed  Capital  support  of  Rs.  1244.95  Crore  has  been  sanctioned  for  3,65,935 women SHG members.

Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industries (PLISFPI) of MoFPI is intended, inter alia, to support creation of global food manufacturing champions and support Indian brands of food products in international market. The scheme is being implemented over a six-year period from 2021-22 to 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs.10,900 crores. By 31st October 2025,  170  applications  have  been  approved  under  this  scheme,  with  beneficiaries  reporting investment of ₹9,032 crore and receiving incentive of ₹2162.55 crore.   Also, Agricultural and Processed  Food  Products  Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA)  provides  incentives  to processed  food  exporters  under  its  different schemes  for  Infrastructure,  Quality,  Market Development etc. These schemes are implemented across the country.

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