Lok Sabha Question No. 4373 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: Measures on Food Loss and Wastage
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Ve Vaithilingam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4373

ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2026

## MEASURES ON FOOD LOSS AND WASTAGE

## 4373. SHRI VE VAITHILINGAM:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to address food loss and wastage along agricultural value chains in Andhra Pradesh given that global estimates show 13.2 per cent of food is lost between harvest and retail and country faces substantial post harvest losses across multiple crops;
- (b) if  so,  the details of initiatives supported for strengthening on farm storage, moisture proof silos, solar cold rooms, low cost cooling chambers and farmer training programmes to minimise  spoilage  along  with  measures  taken  to  integrate  Farmer  Producer  Organisations (FPOs) and self help groups in food loss reduction; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to expand coordination among the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, State Governments/UTs  including Puducherry and international agencies to integrate food loss reduction into agricultural policies, improve farmer incomes and ensure measurable outcomes in terms of reduced greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced food security nationwide and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) estimates post harvest losses from time to time for various agri-produces in the country through commissioning of studies based on primary surveys. Two studies were commissioned by the Ministry through (i) Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) - Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering & Technology  (CIPHET),  2015  with  reference  year  2012-14  and  (ii)  NABARD  Consultancy Service Pvt. Ltd (NABCONS), 2022 with reference year 2020-22. As per the study conducted by NABCONS, crop-wise estimates of overall post harvest losses in India and the state of Andhra Pradesh is placed at Annexure.

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 component  of  the  aforementioned  schemes,  the  MoFPI  provides  financial  assistance  for creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet. The infrastructure created and assistance provided aims at providing better returns to farmers, creation of employment opportunities, reducing wastage, increasing the processing level, enhancing the export of the processed foods and efficient transport of raw & finished processed food products thereby reducing post harvest losses of farm produce.

MoFPI is implementing a Central Sector Umbrella Scheme- PMKSY since 2016-17 to create  post  harvest  infrastructure  and  processing  capacity.  The  component  schemes  under PMKSY are  (i)  Integrated  Cold  Chain  and  Value Addition  Infrastructure,  (ii)  Creation  of

Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters, (iii) Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities (iv) Operation Greens (v) Food Safety and Quality   Assurance - Food Testing Laboratories (FTL) (vi) Human   Resource & Institutions- Research & Development (vii) Mega Food Parks (the component has been discontinued with effect from 01.04.2021 with provision for committed liabilities only) and (viii) Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages (the  component has been discontinued from 1st April 2021). MoFPI provides credit linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of grants-in-aid to the eligible applicants as per the scheme guidelines and  1607 projects have been approved under PMKSY out of which 1196 projects have been completed as on December 2025.

MoFPI  also  provides  financial,  technical  and  business  support  for  upgradation  of existing  micro  food  processing  enterprises  as  well  as  setting  up  of  new  units  under  Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme. The scheme is  operational  from  2020-21  to  2025-26  with  total  outlay  of  Rs.10,000  crores.    As  on  31 st December, 2025, 1,72,707 individual Micro Food Processing Enterprises approved for credit linked  assistance  amounting  to  Rs.  5009.61  Cr,  3,76,326  SHG  members  approved  for  Rs 1282.98 Cr and 76 Incubation centres with outlay of Rs 208.10 Cr.

Further, these scheme allows participation not only by government agencies, but also by private firms, companies, cooperatives, NGOs, FPOs, individuals etc. in setting up coldchain/ processing/ storage units etc. provided they meet eligibility conditions.

(c): The MoFPI is coordinating with various Ministries/Departments and State Governments/UTs  including  Puducherry  and  relevant  international  agencies  to  strengthen efforts for reduction of food loss and wastage through various schemes and programmes of the Government focus on development of post harvest infrastructure, value addition, processing and supply chain efficiency, which contribute to reduction of food losses and improvement in farmers'  income. The  MoFPI  also  collaborates  with  international  organisations  such  as  the Food and Agriculture Organization to adopt globally recognized methodologies and indicators for monitoring food loss and promoting sustainable food systems.

Further, MoFPI  is coordinating with various Ministries/Departments and State Governments/UTs to promote the food processing sector including discussion on the reduction of food loss and wastage through the World Food India event which serves as a key platform for collaboration among the other Central Ministries, State Governments, industry stakeholders and international organizations. The event facilitates knowledge sharing, investment promotion and discussions on, interalia, strengthening post harvest management, improving processing infrastructure and integrating food loss reduction strategies within the broader agricultural and food processing ecosystem.

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ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  &  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  4373  FOR  ANSWER  ON  19 TH MARCH,  2026  ON 'MEASURES ON FOOD LOSS AND WASTAGE'

## Post harvest losses of major crops and commodities in India:

| 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                        |

Source: Report on Assessment of Quantitative Harvest and Post-Harvest Losses of Major Crops and commodities in India, 2015 and NABCONS Study 2022

## Post-harvest losses of major crops and commodities in the state of Andhra Pradesh

| Percentage of Loss (%)   | Percentage of Loss (%)   |
|--------------------------|--------------------------|
| Crops/Commodities        | Overall Total Loss (%)   |
| Bajra                    | 5.07                     |
| Banana                   | 9.33                     |
| Black gram               | 5.56                     |
| Cashew nut               | 4.82                     |
| Chickpea                 | 5.71                     |
| Chilli                   | 7.06                     |
| Citrus                   | 7.97                     |
| Coconut                  | 4.32                     |
| Cottonseed               | 3.03                     |
| Egg                      | 5.47                     |
| Green gram               | 6.13                     |
| Groundnut                | 6.58                     |
| Inland fish              | 4.68                     |
| Maize                    | 5.98                     |
| Mango                    | 7.9                      |
| Marine fish              | 8.5                      |
| Milk                     | 0.58                     |
| Muskmelon                | 7.42                     |
| Paddy                    | 5.73                     |
| Papaya                   | 6.58                     |
| Pomegranate              | 8.69                     |
| Poultry Meat             | 7.39                     |
| Sorghum                  | 5.67                     |
| Tomato                   | 12.36                    |
| Turmeric                 | 4.97                     |

Source: NABCONS Study 2022