Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Food Processing Industries' (MoFPI) response to questions regarding post-harvest management and cold chain infrastructure in India, as of August 21, 2025. It details the number of functional cold chain facilities established under Union Government schemes, addresses the identification of districts with post-harvest losses, outlines steps to encourage private sector investment, and discusses digital platform usage. Data is current up to June 30, 2025, for cold chain projects and January 31, 2025, for cold storage facilities.
Key Points / Main Content:
Cold Chain Facilities and Infrastructure:
* 169 cold chain projects have been completed and operationalized across the country since 2016-17 under the Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (Cold Chain) scheme of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).
* Annexure I provides a state-wise breakdown of these projects up to June 30, 2025, including Odisha (3 projects) and Jharkhand (1 project).
* Annexure II details state-wise cold storage facilities created until January 31, 2025, under various Central Government schemes, including the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). This includes Odisha (182) and Jharkhand (59).
* A total of 8760 cold storage facilities have been created till 31.01.2025 across the country under various Central Government schemes including MIDH.
Assessment of Post-Harvest Losses:
* MoFPI has not conducted any assessment study to identify specific districts or blocks with significant post-harvest losses due to the absence of cold chain logistics.
Incentives for Private Sector and FPO Participation:
* Standalone cold storage and refrigerated transport systems are not supported under PMKSY component schemes; however, cold storage and reefer vehicles are eligible for grants-in-aid/subsidy in individual food processing projects.
* Financial assistance is available for setting up cold chain projects as per scheme guidelines, with credit-linked back-ended grants-in-aid/subsidy provided (35% of eligible project cost in general areas, 50% in difficult areas; up to Rs. 10.00 crore per project for SC/ST, FPOs, and SHGs).
* The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DAFW) provides financial assistance under MIDH for cold storage construction/expansion/modernization (up to 5000 MT capacity), with credit-linked back-ended subsidies (35% in general areas, 50% in NE/Hilly/Scheduled areas).
* The National Horticulture Board (NHB) offers Capital Investment Subsidy for Construction/Expansion/Modernization of Cold Storages and Storages for Horticulture products.
Digital Platform Integration:
* MoFPI has mapped all cold chain projects with capacities under the PM Gati Shakti initiative, but these are not yet linked with local mandis or agri-export hubs.
Palghar District, Maharashtra:
* No cold chain project has been approved by MoFPI in Palghar district of Maharashtra during the last three years (2022-23 to 2024-25).
Impact Analysis:
Government (MoFPI, DAFW, NHB):
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring cold chain schemes, providing financial assistance, and promoting awareness.
* Action Required: Continue implementing schemes, consider conducting assessment studies on post-harvest losses, and explore linking cold chain projects with mandis and export hubs.
Private Organizations and FPOs:
* Impact: Eligible to receive financial assistance (grants-in-aid/subsidies) for establishing cold chain projects.
* Action Required: Evaluate scheme guidelines, prepare and submit proposals for setting up cold chain projects, and participate in MoFPI promotional events.
Farmers and Producers:
* Impact: Benefit from improved cold chain infrastructure, potentially reducing post-harvest losses and increasing income.
* Action Required: Utilize available cold chain facilities and engage with FPOs to leverage scheme benefits.
Consumers:
* Impact: May benefit from better quality and availability of perishable food items due to improved cold chain infrastructure.
* Action Required: None specified.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Food Processing Industries: The Indian government ministry responsible for food processing policies and initiatives.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana: A comprehensive scheme to modernize agriculture, reduce post-harvest losses, and boost food processing sector.
Odisha: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of cold chain facilities and post-harvest losses.
Jharkhand: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of cold chain facilities.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture: A scheme by Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for developing the horticulture sector.
Palghar district of Maharashtra: A district in Maharashtra, specifically mentioned regarding the establishment of cold chain facilities.
Cold Chain scheme: A component scheme under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, focused on developing integrated cold chain infrastructure.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: A department of the Indian government, implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4610
ANSWERED ON 21ST AUGUST, 2025
POST-HARVEST MANAGEMENT AND COLD CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE
4610. SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL:
SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY:
SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:
SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:
DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA:
DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:
SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:
Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of functional cold chain facilities established across the country under
the Union Government sponsored schemes such as the Mission for Integrated
Development of Horticulture and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, State-
wise including Odisha and Jharkhand;
(b) whether the Government has identified such districts or blocks in each State of the
country including Odisha where absence of cold chain logistics after crop harvesting
causes significantly post-harvest losses particularly for perishable items such as fruits,
vegetables, marine and dairy;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) the steps taken by the Government to encourage the participation of private sector
investment and the FPO in decentralised cold storage and refrigerated transportation
systems;
(e) whether any digital platform is being used to map cold chain capacity and link it to
local mandi network or agri-export hubs and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the details of cold chain facilities established in Palghar district of Maharashtra during
the last three years?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)
(a): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing a
component scheme – Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (Cold Chain
scheme) under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2016-17. Under Cold
Chain scheme, so far 169 cold chain projects have been completed and operationalised across
the country since 2016-17. State-wise number of cold chain projects completed and
operationalised till 30.06.2025 across the country since 2016-17 including the States of
Odisha and Jharkhand is provided at Annexure-I.
State-wise number of Cold Storage facilities created so far (till 31.01.2025) across the
country (including the States of Odisha and Jharkhand) under various Central Government
schemes including Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) of Department
of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare(DA&FW) and MoFPI is provided at Annexure-II.(b) & (c): MoFPI has not conducted any assessment study to identify the districts or blocks
across the country where absence of cold chain logistics after crop harvesting causes significant
post-harvest losses particularly for perishable items such as fruits, vegetables, marine and
dairy.
(d): Under any of the component schemes of PMKSY, no standalone cold storage and
refrigerated transport system are supported. However, in the individual food processing
projects, cold storage and reefer vehicles are considered as the eligible items for providing
grants-in-aid/subsidy. Cold Chain scheme is demand driven and being implemented across the
country. Any eligible entity including private organisations and FPOs may avail the financial
assistance in the form of grants-in-aid/ subsidy for setting up of cold chain project as per the
extant scheme guidelines. Under this scheme, credit linked back-ended grants-in-aid/subsidy
is provided for setting up of cold chain projects @35% of the eligible project cost in general
areas and @ 50% in case of difficult areas and the proposals from SC/ST, FPOs and Self Help
Groups with maximum grants-in-aid/ subsidy of Rs.10.00 crore per project.
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has been implementing Mission for
Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) under which financial assistance is provided
for various horticulture activities including construction/ expansion/ modernization of cold
storages of capacity up to 5000 MT across the country on the basis of Annual Action Plan
received from the States/ UTs. Under this demand driven scheme, credit linked back-ended
subsidy @35% of the capital cost of the project in general areas and @ 50% in case of North
East, Hilly States & Scheduled areas through respective State Horticulture Missions.
National Horticulture Board (NHB) has been implementing a scheme namely, Capital
Investment Subsidy for Construction/ Expansion/ Modernization of Cold Storages and
Storages for Horticulture products. Under this demand driven scheme, credit linked back-ended
subsidy @35% of the capital cost of the project in general areas and @ 50% in case of North
East, Hilly States & Scheduled areas for cold storage capacity above 5000 MT and up to 20000
MT is sanctioned for construction/ expansion/ modernization of cold storage and CA store, as
per cost norms prescribed for various sizes/ types of cold storages / onion storages.
MoFPI through its Promotional Activities scheme, organizes food fairs and exhibitions
and also participates in both domestic and international food related events, wherein it creates
awareness on various schemes including the component scheme - Integrated Cold Chain and
Value Addition Infrastructure (Cold Chain scheme) of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana
(PMKSY) being implemented by the Ministry. Expression of Interest (EoIs) are floated in the
Ministry’s website from time to time for inviting proposals from the eligible entities under
Cold Chain scheme. For wider publicity, the EoIs are published in the leading national and
regional newspapers through Press Information Bureau (PIB) and social media platforms.
(e): Under the PM Gati Shakti initiative of Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade (DPIIT), MoFPI has mapped all the cold chain projects along with their
capacities, however, they are not linked with local mandis and agri-export hubs.
(f): Under Cold Chain scheme, during the last three years (2022-23 to 2024-25), no cold
chain project has been approved by MoFPI in Palghar district of Maharashtra.
*****ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE-I REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF THE LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4610 FOR ANSWER ON 21.08.2025 REGARDING
“POST-HARVEST MANAGEMENT AND COLD CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE”
State-wise number of cold chain projects completed and operationalised under Cold
Chain scheme so far (till 30.06.2025) since inception of PMKSY
S. No. State/UT No. of projects completed and
operationalised
1. Andhra Pradesh 20
2. Assam -
3. Bihar 2
4. Chhattisgarh 0
5. Goa -
6. Gujarat 13
7. Haryana 10
8. Himachal Pradesh 4
9. Jammu & Kashmir 2
10. Jharkhand -
11. Karnataka 10
12. Kerala 2
13. Madhya Pradesh 5
14. Maharashtra 31
15. Orissa 3
16. Punjab 11
17. Rajasthan 9
18. Tamil Nadu 10
19. Telangana 7
20. Uttar Pradesh 9
21. Uttarakhand 13
22. West Bengal 5
23. Arunachal Pradesh 1
24. Manipur -
25. Meghalaya -
26. Mizoram -
27. Nagaland 1
28. Tripura -
29. Sikkim -
30. A & N Islands 1
31. Chandigarh -
32. D & N Haveli & -
Daman & Diu
33. Delhi -
34. Lakshadweep -
35. Pondicherry -
36. Ladakh -
Total 169ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE-II REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF THE LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4610 FOR ANSWER ON 21.08.2025 REGARDING
“POST-HARVEST MANAGEMENT AND COLD CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE”
State-wise number of Cold Storage facilities created so far (till 31.01.2025) across the
country under various Central Government schemes including MIDH of DA&FW
S. State/UT No. of cold storage created till
No. 31.01.2025
1 Andaman & Nicobar (UT) 4
2 Andhra Pradesh & Telangana 48 0
3 Arunachal Pradesh 2
4 Assam 43
5 Bihar 316
6 Chandigarh(UT) 7
7 Chhattisgarh 130
8 Delhi 97
9 Goa 29
10 Gujarat 1023
11 Haryana 386
12 Himachal Pradesh 89
13 Jammu & Kashmir 92
14 Jharkhand 59
15 Karnataka 268
16 Kerala 202
17 Lakshadweep(UT) 1
18 Madhya Pradesh 320
19 Maharashtra 665
20 Manipur 2
21 Meghalaya 4
22 Mizoram 3
23 Nagaland 5
24 Odisha 182
25 Puducherry (UT) 4
26 Punjab 770
27 Rajasthan 190
28 Sikkim 2
29 Tamil Nadu 188
30 Telangana 116
31 Tripura 14
31 Uttar Pradesh 2488
32 Uttarakhand 62
33 West Bengal 517
Total 8760
Source: Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI) up to 2009, National
Horticulture Board (NHB), MIDH [National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Horticulture
Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH)] and MoFPI.