**Executive Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to questions regarding post-harvest management and cold chain infrastructure, specifically concerning the establishment of cold chain facilities, identification of loss-prone areas, encouragement of private sector participation, use of digital platforms, and facilities in Palghar district. It references data up to June 30, 2025, for cold chain projects and January 31, 2025, for cold storage facilities. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and other departments have been implementing various schemes to support the development of cold chain infrastructure across the country.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Cold Chain Facility Establishment:**
* As of June 30, 2025, 169 cold chain projects have been completed and operationalized under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2016-17. (Refer to Annexure I for state-wise details)
* As of January 31, 2025, 8760 cold storage facilities have been created across the country under various Central Government schemes, including the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW) and MoFPI. (Refer to Annexure II for state-wise details)
* **Post-Harvest Loss Assessment:**
* MoFPI has not conducted any assessment study to identify districts or blocks where the absence of cold chain logistics significantly impacts post-harvest losses for perishable items.
* **Private Sector and FPO Participation:**
* Standalone cold storage and refrigerated transport systems are not supported under PMKSY component schemes.
* Cold storage and reefer vehicles are eligible for grants-in-aid/subsidy in individual food processing projects.
* Financial assistance is available for eligible entities, including private organizations and FPOs, for setting up cold chain projects.
* Credit-linked back-ended grants-in-aid/subsidy of 35% of the eligible project cost in general areas and 50% in difficult areas are provided, with a maximum of Rs. 10.00 crore per project for SC/ST, FPOs, and Self Help Groups.
* The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DAFW) provides financial assistance under MIDH for cold storage construction, expansion, and modernization (up to 5000 MT capacity).
* The National Horticulture Board (NHB) provides capital investment subsidies for cold storage construction, expansion, and modernization (above 5000 MT and up to 20000 MT capacity).
* MoFPI promotes awareness of cold chain schemes through food fairs, exhibitions, and online Expression of Interest (EOI) invitations.
* **Digital Platform for Mapping:**
* MoFPI has mapped all cold chain projects with their capacities under the PM Gati Shakti initiative of DPIIT, but they are not linked with local mandis and 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:**
* **Private Organizations and FPOs:**
* *Impact:* Can avail financial assistance in the form of grants-in-aid/subsidy for setting up cold chain projects, contributing to infrastructure development and reducing post-harvest losses.
* *Action Required:* Review scheme guidelines, prepare project proposals, and submit applications for financial assistance.
* **Farmers/Producers:**
* *Impact:* Will benefit from the expansion of cold chain infrastructure, leading to reduced post-harvest losses and potentially better prices for their produce.
* *Action Required:* Utilize available cold chain facilities, explore opportunities to form or participate in FPOs, and stay informed about government schemes.
* **State Horticulture Missions:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing MIDH and providing credit-linked back-ended subsidies.
* *Action Required:* Disseminate information about available schemes to relevant stakeholders, process applications, and ensure effective implementation of the program.
* **Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DAFW):**
* *Impact:* Implementing MIDH, which supports cold storage construction and expansion.
* *Action Required:* Continue to support horticulture activities through financial assistance, monitor the progress of cold storage projects, and ensure effective scheme implementation.
* **Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI):**
* *Impact:* Overseeing the implementation of the Cold Chain scheme under PMKSY and mapping cold chain projects.
* *Action Required:* Continue implementing the cold chain scheme, raise awareness through promotional activities, and explore linking cold chain capacities with local mandis and agri-export hubs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI): A government ministry responsible for food processing industries and the implementation of related schemes.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY): A comprehensive scheme to modernize agriculture, reduce post-harvest losses and increase food processing in India.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): A scheme implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for the holistic development of the horticulture sector.
Odisha: A state in eastern India, specifically mentioned in the context of cold chain infrastructure and post-harvest losses.
Jharkhand: A state in eastern India, specifically mentioned in the context of cold chain infrastructure.
Palghar district of Maharashtra: A district in Maharashtra, specifically mentioned regarding the establishment of cold chain facilities.
Cold Chain scheme: A component scheme under PMKSY focused on integrated cold chain and value addition infrastructure.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW): A government department responsible for agriculture and farmers welfare.
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.