Lok Sabha Question No. 4419 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: Cold Chain Facilities in Perambalur
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Thiru Arun Nehru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4419 ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2026

## COLD CHAIN FACILITIES IN PERAMBALUR

## 4419. THIRU ARUN NEHRU:

Will the Minister of Food Processing Industries be pleased to state:

- (a) the food processing units and cold chain facilities established in Perambalur Lok Sabha Constituency;
- (b) the Central assistance provided for maize, onion and small millet processing;
- (c) the post-harvest loss reduction achieved; and
- (d) the applications received to set up cold storage for small onions?

## ANSWER

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

(a) : The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing (i) Central Sector umbrella  scheme  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Sampada  Yojana  (PMKSY);  (ii)  Centrally  Sponsored scheme - PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) and (iii) Central Sector scheme- Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) to support setting up of food processing projects across the country including Perambalur Lok Sabha Constituency in Tamil Nadu. Under PMFME scheme (as on 31.12.2025),              (i) loans for 165 micro food processing enterprises have been sanctioned with subsidy of ₹ 3.71 crore and (ii) seed capital of ₹ 2.30 crore has been sanctioned for 585 Self Help Group members in Perambalur district of Tamil Nadu.

(b) :  Under  various  component  schemes  of  PMKSY,  22  projects  have  been  approved  for processing maize, onion and small millets with total grants-in-aid of ₹ 120.65 crore. Out of ₹120.65 crore, ₹ 100.22 crore has been released to these 22 projects. Further, under PLISFPI, 29 millet processing companies have been approved with total incentive of ₹ 50.33 crore.

(c) : 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. The percentage estimate of overall post-harvest losses in various categories is as below:

Post-harvest losses of major crops and commodities

| Crops/                   | Loss (%)                         | Loss (%)                      |
|--------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 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                    |
| 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. **NABCONS Study 2022

(d) :  Under  any  of  the  component  schemes  of  PMKSY,  no  standalone  cold  storage  is supported. However, cold storage is supported as a constituent in the integrated food processing projects. PMKSY is demand driven and the proposals for setting up of food processing projects are invited by floating Expression of Interest (EoIs) from time to time based on availability of funds. Any eligible entity as per extant scheme guidelines may apply against the EoI and avail benefit under any of the component schemes of PMKSY.

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