Lok Sabha Question No. 169 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-11
Subject: International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, Shri Eatala Rajender

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *169

ANSWERED ON 11 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## INTERNATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS OF FOOD LOSS AND WASTE

- *169. SHRI CHAMALA KIRAN KUMAR REDDY: SHRI EATALA RAJENDER:

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

- (a) whether the Government observed the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste and is aware that nearly one-third of food produced globally is lost or wasted and substantial post-harvest losses across multiple Food Processing Industries in the country shows the alarmingly high losses throughout the agricultural spectrum; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken by the Government to reduce food loss and waste in the country?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI CHIRAG PASWAN)

- (a) & (b): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  AND  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *169 FOR ANSWER ON 11 TH  DECEMBER, 2025 REGARDING 'INTERNATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS OF FOOD LOSS AND WASTE'

(a) & (b) The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), based in Rome organises various events to create awareness, promote collective efforts and actions to prevent and reduce food loss and waste including through the Technical Platform on the Measurement and Reduction of Food Loss and Waste (TPFLW) hosted by FAO. The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is observed on 29 September every year with an aim to promote awareness and collective action to reduce food loss and waste.

In September 2023, FAO invited India to participate in the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the Rome Based Agencies represented India in the event at FAO and shared India's efforts to create awareness of food loss and waste including initiatives for addressing this matter in agriculture sector.

Globally, as per FAO, an estimated 13 percent of food, the equivalent of 1.25 billion tonnes was lost globally after harvest and prior to reaching retail shelves in 2021.

Further, 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   |
|---------------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------------|
| Crops/ Commodities        | 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                  |
|                           | 4.58-12.44                       | Vegetables 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                 | 2.34      | 2.71    |
| 6.74                 | 5.63      | Poultry |
|                      | 7.19 6.03 | Egg     |

The  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  supports  the  creation  and  expansion  of  the processing/preservation capacities through  implementation  of  three schemes  for  the overall development of food processing sector, including creation of modern infrastructure  with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlets, reduce post-harvest losses and create valueaddition, providing better returns to farmers, creation of employment opportunities, increasing the processing levels and enhancing the export of processed foods. Brief of these three schemes being implemented by MoFPI are as under:

## i. Central Sector scheme- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY):

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) is being implemented since 2017-18 across the  country.  The  component  schemes  under  PMKSY  are  (i)  Integrated  Cold  Chain  &  Value Addition Infrastructure (ii) Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC scheme), (iii) Operation Greens (OG scheme), (iv) Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing  Clusters  (APC  scheme),  (v)  Mega  Food  Parks  (MFP  scheme-  discontinued  w.e.f. 01.04.2021) and (vi) Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages (CBFL scheme- discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021). 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. 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 31st October, 2025 creating processing and preservation capacity of 269.61 LMT/ annum (Lakh Metric Tonne).

## ii. Centrally  sponsored  "PM  Formalization  of  Micro  Food  Processing  Enterprises  (PMFME) Scheme:

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.  The  scheme  is operational from 2020-21 to 2025-26 with total outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore. As of 31 st 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  approx.  Rs.  13230  crore.  Seed  Capital  support  of  Rs. 1244.95 Crore has been sanctioned for 3,65,935 women self-help group (SHG) members.

- iii. Central  Sector  Production  Linked  Incentive  Scheme  for  Food  Processing  Industries (PLISFPI):

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. Under PLISFPI a total of 170 applications have been approved, with beneficiaries reporting investment of ₹9,032 crore and receiving incentive of ₹2162.55 crore. The scheme has generated more than 3.40 lakh employment (direct and indirect)  against  target  of  2.5  lakh  by  the  year  2026-27  and  created processing capacity of 35.14 LMT/ annum (Lakh Metric Tonne).

Further, The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has formed the Indian Food Sharing  Alliance  (IFSA)  with  an  aim  to  address  India's  food  waste  and  hunger  crisis  by integrating various partner organizations, Food Recovery Agencies and NGO's. IFSA aims to recover the surplus food generated, reduce the amount of food waste generated and increase the amount of safe and nutritious food donated to those in need. FSSAI has framed regulations 'Food Safety  and  Standards  (Recovery  and  Distribution  of  Surplus  food)  Regulation,  2019'  to promulgate food donation drive and prevent food loss and waste in India.

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