**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 868 regarding government initiatives to reduce food waste. It details the estimated percentage of harvest and post-harvest losses of various agricultural produce in India based on studies conducted in 2015 and 2022. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing various schemes to address the issue, which are outlined in the document. Key dates mentioned include scheme operational timelines and reporting deadlines.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Estimated Harvest and Post-Harvest Loss:**
* The document presents a table outlining estimated percentage losses for various crops and commodities, as per ICAR-CIPHET study (2015) and NABCONS study (2022). Commodities include:
* Cereals, Pulses, Oil Seeds, Fruits, Vegetables, Plantation Crops & Spices, Milk, Fisheries (Inland), Fisheries (Marine), Meat, Poultry, and Egg.
* **MoFPI Initiatives and Schemes:**
* The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) implements various schemes to reduce food waste and improve food processing infrastructure.
* These schemes include:
* Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), operational since 2017-18.
* Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), operational from 2020-21 to 2025-26.
* Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industries (PLISFPI), being implemented over a six-year period from 2021-22 to 2026-27.
* PMKSY component schemes:
* Mega Food Parks (MFP scheme- discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021)
* Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure
* Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing Clusters (APC scheme)
* Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC scheme)
* Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages (CBFL scheme- discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021)
* Operation Greens (OG scheme)
* Financial assistance provided for modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management.
* Financial, technical and business support provided for setting up/ upgradation of micro food processing enterprises.
* Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) provides incentives to processed food exporters.
* **PMKSY Project Sanctions and Completion:**
* A total of 1619 projects have been sanctioned under PMKSY since inception.
* 1181 projects have been completed as of 31st October, 2025.
* **PMFME Scheme Progress:**
* 3,86,686 applications sent to banks as of 31st October 2025.
* 1,62,744 loans sanctioned with a term loan amount of Rs. 13.23 thousand crore.
* Seed Capital support of Rs. 1244.95 Crore sanctioned for 3,65,935 women SHG members.
* **PLISFPI Scheme Progress:**
* 170 applications approved under PLISFPI by 31st October 2025.
* Beneficiaries reporting investment of ₹9,032 crore and receiving incentive of ₹2162.55 crore.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
*Impact*
Farmers can expect better returns, reduced wastage, and increased processing levels due to improved infrastructure and financial assistance.
*Action Required*
Farmers can apply for financial support under the various schemes to set up or upgrade food processing projects.
**Food Processing Enterprises**
*Impact*
Enterprises will benefit from financial and technical support to improve infrastructure, processing capabilities, and access to global markets.
*Action Required*
Enterprises should apply for available incentives and schemes to enhance their operations and exports.
**Women SHG Members**
*Impact*
Women SHG members receive seed capital support for micro food processing enterprises.
*Action Required*
SHG members should utilize sanctioned seed capital to establish or upgrade micro food processing units.
**Processed Food Exporters**
*Impact*
Exporters can avail incentives for infrastructure, quality, and market development to boost exports of processed food products.
*Action Required*
Exporters should apply for incentives provided by APEDA to improve their export capabilities and market reach.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI): The primary ministry responsible for implementing the schemes and initiatives discussed in the document.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY): A central sector umbrella scheme implemented by MoFPI, aimed at modernizing food processing infrastructure.
Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME): A scheme under MoFPI providing financial, technical, and business support for micro food processing enterprises.
Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industries (PLISFPI): A scheme of MoFPI intended to support creation of global food manufacturing champions and support Indian brands.
Indian Council for Agricultural Research – Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering & Technology (ICAR-CIPHET): An organization that conducted studies on harvest and post-harvest loss, providing data relevant to the question.
GOVERNMENTOF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 868
ANSWERED ON 04TH DECEMBER, 2025
INITIATIVES TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE
868. SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHAWA:
Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:
(a): whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that a large amount of food
is wasted every year and a significant portion of agricultural produce is lost after
harvesting;
(b): if so, the details of the initiatives proposed by the Government to reduce food wastage
and improve food processing infrastructure in the country; and
(c): whether the Government is of the opinion that a strong food processing sector is
important for increasing farmers' income and encouraging exports and if so, the details
of the steps being taken in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)
(a) to (c): As per studies conducted by Indian Council for Agricultural Research – Central
Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering & Technology (ICAR-CIPHET), 2015 and NABARD
Consultancy Service Pvt. Ltd (NABCONS), 2022, the estimated percentage of Harvest and
Post-Harvest loss of various agricultural produce in India is as follows:
Crops/ Commodities Estimated Percentage Loss
As per ICAR-CIPHET study As per NABCONS study
(2015) (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
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (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 ProductionLinked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industries (PLISFPI) aims for the overall
development of food processing sector. Under various components of the aforementioned
schemes, the MoFPI provides financial assistance for creation of modern infrastructure with
efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlets. The infrastructure created
and assistance provided aims at providing better returns to farmers, creation of employment
opportunities, reducing wastage, increasing the processing levels and enhancing the export of
the processed foods.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing Central
Sector umbrella scheme – Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2017-18
across the country. The component schemes under PMKSY are (i) Mega Food Parks (MFP
scheme- discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021), (ii) Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition
Infrastructure (iii) Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing Clusters (APC scheme), (iv)
Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC scheme), (v)
Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages (CBFL scheme- discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021)
and (vi) Operation Greens (OG scheme). The schemes are demand driven and proposals are
invited by floating Expression of Interest from time to time based on availability of funds.
Under these component schemes, MoFPI provides financial support in the form of grants-in-
aid/ subsidy for setting up of food processing projects thereby creating both processing and
preservation infrastructure facilities including cold chain infrastructure. The facilities created
under the component schemes help in preservation & processing of raw farm produce and
efficient transport of raw & finished processed food products thereby reducing post-harvest
losses of farm produce. A total of 1619 projects have been sanctioned across the country since
inception under PMKSY, out of which 1181 projects have been completed as on 31st October,
2025.
MoFPI provides financial, technical and business support for setting up/ upgradation of
micro food processing enterprises in the country under "Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro
Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme. The support is provided for potential
entrepreneurs for all the products including One District One Product (ODOP) products under
PMFME Scheme across the country. The scheme is operational from 2020-21 to 2025-26 with
total outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore. As of 31st October 2025, 3,86,686 applications have been sent to
banks and out of which 1,62,744 loans have been sanctioned with term loan amount of Rs. 13.23
thousand crore. Seed Capital support of Rs. 1244.95 Crore has been sanctioned for 3,65,935
women SHG members.
Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industries (PLISFPI) of MoFPI
is intended, inter alia, to support creation of global food manufacturing champions and support
Indian brands of food products in international market. The scheme is being implemented over a
six-year period from 2021-22 to 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs.10,900 crores. By 31st October
2025, 170 applications have been approved under this scheme, with beneficiaries reporting
investment of ₹9,032 crore and receiving incentive of ₹2162.55 crore. Also, Agricultural and
Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) provides incentives to
processed food exporters under its different schemes for Infrastructure, Quality, Market
Development etc. These schemes are implemented across the country.
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