Lok Sabha Question No. 1966 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-11
Subject: Collaboration with Educational Institutes for Advanced Cold Chain Infrastructure
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri P C Mohan, Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1966 ANSWERED ON 11 TH  DECEMBER 2025

## COLLABORATION WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES FOR ADVANCED COLD CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE

## 1966.   SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA: SHRI P C MOHAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to collaborate with educational and research institutions in  Karnataka particularly in Dakshina Kannada and Bengaluru such as IIHR, UAS and other  skill  development  centres  such  as  NITK  Surathkal,  Mangalore  University  and fisheries and food science institutes to create certified training programmes for managing and  maintaining  advanced  cold  chain  infrastructure  required  for  high-value  perishable commodities, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the manner in which the Government ensures that Agro-Processing Clusters and cold chain projects are located near high-value crop production and horticulture zones in Bengaluru and Dakshina Kannada such as arecanut, coconut, cashew and marine fisheries belts to reduce post-harvest losses, improve logistics efficiency and improve farmers' income;
- (c) whether the Government has introduced third-party auditing mechanisms to monitor the utilisation and performance of Agro-Processing Clusters and cold chain infrastructure in the said districts in Karnataka including primary processing and collection centres used by farmers in Dakshina Kannada and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the manner in which the Government ensure that farmers, FPOs and peri-urban farming communities linked to Bengaluru are receiving the intended benefits from these facilities?

## ANSWER

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

(a): National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) at Kundli, Haryana and Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu which are autonomous institutes under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries have collaborated with several educational and research institutions including in Karnataka to strengthen academics, research and capacity-building initiatives in the food processing sector.  NIFTEM-Thanjavur has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru and other Universities in the State of Karnataka. NIFTEM-Thanjavur has also conducted short term courses on Cold Chain Management.

(b): The component schemes - Creation of  Infrastructure for Agro Processing Clusters (APC) and Infrastructure Integrated Cold Chain and Value addition of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada

Yojana (PMKSY) are demand driven and proposals are invited from time to time, from across the country including Bengaluru and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka to support setting up of  integrated  cold  chain  /  agro-processing  cluster  projects.  These  projects  help  in  creation  of infrastructural facilities with an aim to increasing shelf-life, generating employment opportunities and benefitting farmers by enhancing their income.

Preference is given to proposals under APC scheme which are to be set up in agri-horti clusters identified from time to time by Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), APEDA etc.

(c): Yes,  Sir.  Ministry  has  got  conducted  a  third-party  impact  evaluation  study  for  AgroProcessing Clusters and Cold Chain infrastructure. This study has endorsed the performance of Cold Chain and APC schemes and recommended for their continuation to meet out the gap existing between the available post-harvest infrastructure and the required facilities.

(d): Under Cold Chain and Agro Processing Cluster schemes any entity including farmers and FPOs are eligible to apply and avail the benefits of the scheme. Till date, one project has been approved in Bengaluru region thereby benefiting 600 farmers.

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