Parliament Question: Promotion of Cold Storage Infrastructure

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 334 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21st JULY, 2026 PROMOTION OF COLD STORAGE INFRASTRUCTURE

334. SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी

be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken steps to bring about more awareness for promoting cold storage infrastructure in the country;

(b) if so, the quantum of assistance extended to the entrepreneurs, attracting more entrepreneurs in this field;

(c) whether the Government will pay special attention to this area as popularising the technology among the youth, would not only bring down the commodity value uniformly throughout the year but also bring manifold employment opportunities to the youth; and

(d) whether the Government provides support by extending loans to the entrepreneurs more freely and also interest free loans for setting up cold storage infrastructure? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): To create awareness on the various scheme for subsidy including cold storage among the farming community, the Mass Media Support under Agriculture Extension scheme is implemented since 2004 with the objective of creating awareness among farming communities and other stakeholders about the schemes, programmes, missions and new initiatives of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), as well as crop advisories, weather information, market information and modern, region-specific agricultural technologies. The scheme is implemented through Doordarshan, DD Kisan and All India Radio (AIR) for the telecast and broadcast of agriculture and allied sector programmes sponsored by DA&FW. Under the scheme, a 30-minute programme, ‘Krishi Darshan’, is telecast through 19 Regional Doordarshan Kendras. In addition, three programmes, namely ‘Krishi Darshan’, ‘Adhunik aur Satat Krishi Ki Ore’ and ‘Krishi Chaupal’ are telecast on DD Kisan.

Through All India Radio (AIR), the ‘Kisanvani’ programme is broadcasted through 232 AIR FM, FM-Gold and Rainbow stations across the country to create awareness among the farming community. In addition, agriculture-related programmes are also broadcast through 29 Vividh Bharati stations. Publicity and awareness activities are also undertaken through outdoor publicity and print advertisements in leading newspapers across the country.Further, in view of the increasing penetration of mobile phones and internet services, including in rural areas, social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp Channels are also being utilised for disseminating information and creating awareness about the initiatives, schemes and programmes of DA&FW.

Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for holistic development of horticulture in the country to reducing the post-harvest losses through increasing cold storage infrastructure. Under MIDH scheme financial assistance is provided for various horticulture activities including Construction/Expansion/ Modernization of cold storages of capacity up to 5000 MT in the country on the basis of Annual Action Plan (AAP) received from States/UTs. The component of Cold Storage is demand/entrepreneur driven for which Government assistance in the form of credit linked back ended subsidy is available at the rate of 35% of the project cost in general areas and 50% of the project cost in case of NE & Himalayan State, Scheduled areas, vibrant villages, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands through respective State Horticulture Missions. Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), awareness is generated through capacity-building programmes, workshops, seminars, exhibitions, and exposure visits aimed at farmers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders.

Besides, National Horticulture Board (NHB) is implementing a scheme namely “Capital Investment Subsidy for Construction/Expansion /Modernization of Cold Storages and Storages for Horticulture Products”. Under the scheme, credit linked back-ended subsidy at the rate of 35% of the capital cost of the project in general areas and 50% in case of North East, hilly & scheduled areas for construction/expansion/modernization of cold storage and Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage of capacity above 5000 MT and up to 20000 MT is available.

As per the records, Rs.175.89 crore and Rs. 37.63 crore have been approved for establishment of 122 numbers and 16 numbers of cold storages under National Horticulture Board and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture respectively during 2025-26.Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) implements a Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain, Food Processing and Preservation Infrastructure as one of the components of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) with the objective of reducing post-harvest losses of horticulture and non-horticulture produce and providing remunerative price to farmers for their produce. Under the scheme, Ministry provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid at the rate of 35% for general areas and 50% for North East and Himalayan States, Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) areas and Islands for storage and transport infrastructure and at the rate of 50% and 75% respectively for value addition and processing infrastructure subject to a maximum grant-in-aid of Rs. 10.00 crore per project for setting up of integrated cold chain projects including irradiation facility.

Standalone cold storages are not covered under the Scheme.

(c): The Government is promoting the adoption of modern and advanced technologies such as protected cultivation, high-density planting, precision irrigation, quality planting material, mechanization, post-harvest management infrastructure, cold chain, and other technology-driven interventions in the horticulture sector through various schemes and programmes, including the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

Apart from this, MIDH and NHB have recently introduced solar-based micro cold storage, bio-mass based cold storage under the new technology interventions and can be availed under the component of farm gate pack house, integrated pack house and collection aggregation center. These new technologies promote use of renewal energy and are climate friendly. To spread awareness among youth, FPOs growers and young entrepreneurs 10 training workshops along with State horticulture departments have been organized for highlighting the use and importance of latest technologies in horticulture sector.

(d): To facilitates institutional credit and strengthen agriculture infrastructure in the country, Government has launched Agriculture Infrastructure Funds (AIF) of Rs. 1.00 lakh crore.

Under AIF, there is provision for collateral free term loan upto Rs. 2.00 crore and interest subvention of 3% on the term loan availed for creation of post-harvest infrastructure including establishment of cold storages. These initiatives significantly reduce the cost of credit and make it more accessible for entrepreneurs investing in cold storage facilities. As per report uploaded on the AIF website, a total 3079 number of cold storage/cold chain projects have been sanctioned with total financial assistance of Rs. 10901.54 crore under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme.

*****