Parliament Question: Wastage of Food

Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2918 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2026 WASTAGE OF FOOD 2918. SHRI EATALA RAJENDER: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) whether the country wastes food worth approximately Rs. 1.55 lakh crore annually, with nearly 78–80 million tonnes of food lost each year; (b) if so, the details thereof, comparatively with other countries' and our States' details; (c) whether this massive wastage occurs while around 194 million people in the country remain undernourished, highlighting a severe breakdown in food distribution and logistics; (d) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; (e) whether the crisis is driven by poor cold chain infrastructure, weak supply chains and high consumer wastage; (f) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and (g) the corrective steps being taken by the Government to educate the people in this regard? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L. VERMA) (a) to (f) : India operates the world's largest food security safety net under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), providing free foodgrains to over 80 crore beneficiaries transparently through digitized Targeted Public Distribution Systems (TPDS) enabled by 'One Nation, One Ration Card' (ONORC). Food grain losses within the central pool managed by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) are kept minimal through scientific storage and preservation methods. For an efficient supply chain management, FCI introduced ANNA DARPAN an integrated supply chain operations management system designed to enhance efficiency, transparency and real-time visibility across FCI’s end-to-end operation. Food loss and wastage occur at different stages of the food supply chain due to multiple factors such as post-harvest handling, storage, transportation, processing, retail practices and consumer behaviour. In order to mitigate infrastructure gaps, the Government has proactively implemented following measures to upgrade storage and logistics networks: (a) Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF): Providing medium-to-long term debt financing facilities for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure like cold storage units and refrigerated vans etc. and community farming assets.(b) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY): Aimed at the creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet, including the setting up of Integrated Cold Chains and Value Addition infrastructure. (c) PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme: Supporting capacity building and formalization of micro food processing units to curb localized losses. (g) : Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched a social initiative called “Save Food Share Food” which aims to promote surplus food donation to prevent food waste in food industry including food caterers. FSSAI developed a website www.sharefood.fssai.gov.in as repository of information on this initiative. The website provides information related to the network on prevention of food waste. Mission LiFE, an initiative of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, promotes individual and collective action towards lifestyle for environment. Sustainable consumption and reduction of food waste are important component of the initiative. *****