**Summary:**
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is actively engaged in initiatives to reduce food waste and promote the development of India's food processing sector. A 2022 study by NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS) assessed post-harvest losses of 54 crops/commodities, including in Punjab, with 2020-2022 as the reference period. The study estimated losses at both the farm operations and market levels for various crops in Punjab. Examples of estimated losses include: Capsicum (1.49% at farm operations, 2.82% at market level), Citrus (3.62% and 1.78%), Green Pea (4.77% and 1.89%), Maize (4.04% and 2.87%), Milk (0.51% and 0.12%), Mushroom (5.45% and 1.25%), Muskmelon (3.23% and 2.25%), Paddy (2.7% and 0.45%), Potato (4.91% and 0.66%), Sugarcane (3.15% and 1.23%) and Wheat (2.84% and 1.71%).
MoFPI collaborates with other Ministries and organizations, including the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (to boost exports and FDI), the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (for cluster identification for processing and value addition), APEDA (organising buyer-seller meets) NABARD (implementing schemes for supporting FPI sector), and FSSAI (quality and standards for processed food products). State Governments implement the PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme to enhance competitiveness of micro-enterprises.
MoFPI incentivizes innovation in the sector through its autonomous institutions, NIFTEM-Kundli and NIFTEM-Thanjavur. NIFTEM has developed "SURAKSHIT" technology that converts agri-food processing waste into biodegradable, bio-based packaging.
The Ministry incentivizes infrastructure development through central sector schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI), and the Centrally Sponsored PMFME Scheme to promote food processing and improved logistics, addressing post-harvest losses.
This information was provided by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Shri Ravneet Singh in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Food Processing Industries: The Indian governmental ministry responsible for the development and regulation of the food processing sector.
NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.: A consultancy firm that conducted a study on post-harvest losses of agricultural produce in India for the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
Punjab: A state in India where post-harvest losses of various agricultural products were assessed as part of the study.
Ministry of Commerce Industry: An Indian governmental ministry that coordinates with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries to boost exports and promote Foreign Direct Investment in the Food Processing sector.
Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority: An Indian government organization that collaborates with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries to promote exports of processed food products.
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development: An Indian development bank that implements schemes like the NABARD Special Food Processing Fund and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to support the Food Processing sector.
PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of microenterprises in the unorganized food processing segment.
National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli, Haryana: An autonomous institution under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries that focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship in the food processing sector, located in Kundli, Haryana.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Initiatives for Reducing Food Waste
Posted On: 31 JUL 2025 5:54PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) had commissioned a study through NABARD
Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. (NABCONS), namely, “Study to determine Post harvest losses of Agri
Produce in India” in 2022 with reference year 2020-22.The scope of the study was to assess post-harvest
losses with respect to 54 crops/commodities across the country including the state of Punjab. The details of
estimated loss of various agri-produce selectedin Punjab during various stages of processing are as below:
Estimated Loss(%)
Sr. No. Crop Name
Farm Operations Market Level
1. Capsicum 1.49 2.82
2. Citrus 3.62 1.78
3. Green Pea 4.77 1.89
4. Maize 4.04 2.87
5. Milk 0.51 0.12
6. Mushroom 5.45 1.25
7. Muskmelon 3.23 2.25
8. Paddy 2.7 0.45
9. Potato 4.91 0.66
10. Sugarcane 3.15 1.23
11. Wheat 2.84 1.71
MoFPI co-ordinates with other Ministries and organizations to unlock the full potential and holistic
development of India’s food processing sector. MoFPI co-ordinates with following Ministries, Departments,
State Governments and autonomous bodies of Government of India:
MoFPI co-ordinates with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to boost exports and promote FDI
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(Foreign Direct Investment) in the FPI sector. Further, the Ministry in co-ordination with Agricultural &
Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) takes initiatives like organising
buyers- sellers meet, industry consultations, etc. for promotion of exports of processed food products.
MoFPI co-ordinates with Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for identifying clusters for
(cid:108)
promoting processing and value addition. Additionally, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development (NABARD) is also implementing schemes NABARD Special Food Processing Fund,
AgricultureInfrastructure Fund (AIF) - NABARD etc. for supporting FPI sector.
MoFPI co-ordinates with FFSAI on various issues related to quality and standards for the processed food
(cid:108)products.
State Governments implements PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME), a
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Centrally Sponsored Scheme of MoFPI to enhance competitiveness of individual micro-enterprises in the
unorganized segment, to promote formalization and to support individual enterprises / FPOs/ SHGs along
the entire value chain. As a part of implementation of the said scheme there is regular consultation and
coordination with the State Governments.
MoFPI is actively incentivizing innovation in the food processing sector, particularly through its two
autonomous institutions namely, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management,
Kundli, Haryana (NIFTEM-K) and National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management,
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. This collaboration focuses on fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and
collaboration to strengthen the sector.
NIFTEMs, have developed a technology, called SURAKSHIT, that transforms agri-food processing
waste into fully biodegradable, bio-based packaging material, offering a sustainable alternative to
conventional plastics. This technology showcases a waste-to-resource approach, converting agro-
waste into a useful product while promoting a circular economy.
In order to promote and ensure overall development of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Food
Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been incentivizing setting up/expansion of related infrastructure
through its Central Sector schemes. MoFPI is implementing Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA
Yojana (PMKSY) Scheme, Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry
(PLISFPI) and Centrally Sponsored PMFME Scheme across the country for promoting food
processing, improved logistics, etc that also addresses the issue of post-harvest losses.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Shri Ravneet
Singh in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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STK
(Release ID: 2150883)