**Executive Summary**
This document presents the answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2633 concerning losses to perishable crops due to inadequate storage, to be answered on December 16, 2025. It provides data on production and post-harvest losses for bananas, citrus (including lemon), and onions for the year 2020-21. The document highlights various governmental schemes and initiatives aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and improving storage infrastructure.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Data on Crop Production and Losses (2020-21):**
* Estimated fruits and vegetables production was 255.56 MMT, with post-harvest losses of 19.33 MMT valued at ₹57,004.15 crore.
* Specific data for banana, citrus (including lemon), and onion is provided in the table.
| Produce | Production in MMT | Losses in MMT (2022 report of NABCON) | Losses in Rs. Crores (2022 report of NABCON) | Savings over 2015 report of CIPHET (Rs. in crore) |
| :----------------- | :---------------- | :-------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------- |
| Banana | 33.06 | 2.50 | 5777.01 | 145 |
| Citrus (including lemon) | 14.24 | 1.10 | 4347.13 | 1116.38 |
| Onion | 26.64 | 1.93 | 5156.32 | 667.62 |
* **Government Schemes and Initiatives:**
* Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare implements schemes providing financial assistance for storage and post-harvest infrastructure.
* These include:
* Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) under ISAM.
* Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
* Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
* Ministry of Food Processing Industries supports supply-chain and processing infrastructure through:
* Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKS).
* Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME).
* Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLIS-FPI).
* Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAR) Start-up Program also supports innovations for better post harvest management.
* **Pricing Information:**
* Month-wise all-India weighted average modal prices for banana, lemon, and onion are included in the Annexure.
* Average yearly prices for banana, lemon and onion were ₹3453, ₹3897, and ₹1467 respectively.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers:**
* **Impact:** Affected by post-harvest losses due to inadequate storage facilities and potential fluctuations in market prices.
* **Action Required:** Should avail themselves of the schemes and incentives provided by the government for improving storage infrastructure and adopting better post-harvest management practices.
**Government (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Food Processing Industries):**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and monitoring schemes to reduce post-harvest losses and improve storage infrastructure.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support and expand the reach of existing schemes and initiatives aimed at minimizing wastage, promoting scientific storage, and enhancing export potential, while also monitoring the market prices and addressing any price volatility.
**Consumers:**
* **Impact:** Indirectly impacted by the availability and pricing of perishable crops, which are influenced by post-harvest losses and storage facilities.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required but benefit from initiatives that reduce post harvest losses and improve produce supply.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The ministry responsible for implementing schemes related to agricultural produce storage and post-harvest infrastructure.
Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI): A component under the Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing (ISAM) that aims to establish marketing and storage infrastructure.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): A scheme to construct and modernise cold storage facilities for horticultural produce.
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF): A fund that provides concessional credit with interest subvention and credit guarantee for creating post-harvest facilities.
"Study to Determine Post-Harvest Losses of Agricultural Produce in India": A study commissioned by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) that estimates post-harvest losses of agricultural produce.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2633
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16TH DECEMBER, 2025
LOSSES TO PERISHABLE CROPS DUE TO INADEQUATE STORAGE
2633. SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं(cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण
म(cid:287)ं ी be pleased to state:
(a) the data of the quantity and value of perishable crops specifically onions, lemons and
bananas produced by farmers along with the losses of harvested crop due to inadequate
storage facilities during the last three years;
(b) the information on the market rates received by farmers for the aforementioned
perishable crops during their respective harvesting months as well as the average market
rate throughout the year;
(c) the overview of any schemes or special incentives available for constructing necessary
special type storage facilities for these perishable crops such as onions, lemons and
bananas, district-wise; and
(d) the details on any studies conducted regarding the potential for extending the shelf life
of perishable crops including onions, lemons and bananas produced by farmers, a
onetime investment and benefit to farmers at a large?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a): Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India,
commissioned a “Study to Determine Post-Harvest Losses of Agricultural Produce in
India”. The report, submitted in 2022 based on 2020-21 data, estimates that fruits and
vegetables production was 255.56 MMT, with post-harvest losses of 19.33 MMT valued
at ₹57,004.15 crore. For banana, citrus (including lemon), and onion, production and
estimated physical and monetary losses for 2020-21 are as follows:
Losses in Rs. Savings over 2015
Losses in MMT
Production Crores (2022 report of CIPHET
Produce (2022 report of
in MMT report of (Rs. in crore)
NABCON)
NABCON)
Banana 33.06 2.50 5777.01 145
Citrus
including 14.24 1.10 4347.13 1116.38
lemon
Onion 26.64 1.93 5156.32 667.62Due to implementation of schemes in mission mode, adoption of improved post-
harvest technology, better storage infrastructure and enhanced training and awareness
among farmers, post-harvest losses have been reduced significantly compared to earlier
estimates.
(b) & (c): In India, harvesting and arrival of banana, lemon and onion continues
throughout the year. Month-wise all-India weighted average modal prices, along with
average prices received by farmers during the respective harvesting months, are at
Annexure.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing several schemes under
which financial assistance is provided for creation of storage and post-harvest
infrastructure for agricultural produce, including perishable crops such as onions, lemons
and bananas. These include Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) under ISAM - for
establishment of marketing and storage infrastructure in APMCs, cooperatives and the
private sector, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) - for
construction and modernization of cold storage facilities for horticultural produce and
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) under which concessional credit with interest
subvention and credit guarantee is provided for creation of post-harvest facilities such as
cold storages, ripening chambers and pack-houses.
In addition, Ministry of Food Processing Industries supports supply-chain and
processing infrastructure through their Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana( PMKS),
Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME)
and Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLIS-FPI)
scheme.
These interventions aim to minimize wastage, promote scientific storage and
processing, enhance export potential and improve farmers’ income.
(d): Scientific storage and control of temperature and humidity extend shelf life of
perishable crops including onions, lemons & bananas. AIF and MIDH have supported
such initiatives. Additionally, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-Remunerative Approaches
for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAR) Start-up Program also
supports innovations for better post harvest management.Annexure
Month-wise all-India weighted average modal prices, along with average prices
Price (Rs./Qtl.)
Month Banana Lemon Onion
December-2024 3574 3936 2716
January-2025 3893 3802 2086
February-2025 4168 4492 2090
March-2025 3927 7070 1671
April-2025 3640 7063 1115
May-2025 3341 4218 1014
June-2025 3443 2704 1225
July-2025 3112 2156 1235
August-2025 3270 2753 1255
September-2025 2583 2852 1077
October-2025 2349 2391 1059
November-2025 4134 3330 1066
Average yearly Price 3453 3897 1467
Source: Agmarknet
*****