Inadequate processing and cold storage facilities cause waste

New Delhi, Mar 12 (UNI) The Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that according to a report of Rabo India Finance Pvt Ltd wastage of agricultural food items is estimated to be about Rs 58,000 crore occurring at various stages of handling after harvesting.

In a written reply to the House, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahai said the reasons for the wastage include fragmented farming, provisions in Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act, inadequate post-harvest infrastructure such as lack of cold chain facilities, transportation and proper storage facilities.

The loss due to wastage could be reduced by a developed food processing industry, strengthening of the post-harvest infrastructure and filling the gaps in the supply chain.

A Vision 2015 on Food Processing Industries has been finalised by the Ministry and an estimated investment of Rs 100,000 crore is required to achieve the Vision.

On the relief package to processed food exporters, Mr Sahai said though there is no relief package as such, yet government already provides support to exporters through various financial assistance schemes by APEDA and MPEDA.

Regarding testing laboratories, the Minister said his Ministry provides financial assistance under its Plan Scheme to various stakeholders such as Central/State Government organisations.

IITs, Universities, private sector organisations for setting up/upgradation of food testing laboratories in order to meet domestic as well as international standards of the food products.

MFPI do not set up food/fruits testing laboratories on its own and the schemes operated by MFPI are also not State specific.

The items exclusively reserved for small-scale industries are pickles and chutneys, bread, pastry, hard boiled sugar candy, rapeseed oil, mustard oil, sesame oil, groundnut oil, ground and processed spices other than spice oil and oleo resin spices.

Replying to a question on white bread leading to kidney cancer, Mr Sahai said the information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

UNI