**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3115 regarding the wastage of fruits and vegetables due to lack of proper storage. Answered on December 18th, 2025, it outlines the current state of post-harvest losses in India, government initiatives to reduce these losses, and efforts to bridge the skill gap in the food processing sector. The document highlights various training programs and schemes aimed at enhancing processing and preservation capacities, with project completion data updated to October 31st, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Post-Harvest Losses:**
* India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables, but significant wastage occurs due to poor processing and storage.
* Estimated percentage losses for fruits and vegetables are provided based on ICAR-CIPHET (2015) and NABCONS (2022) studies.
* **Government Initiatives for Reducing Losses:**
* The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) supports the establishment of food processing industries to create processing/preservation capacities.
* Support is provided through schemes like “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)” and "PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.
* 1619 projects have been sanctioned under PMKSY, with 1181 completed as of October 31st, 2025, creating a capacity of 269.61 LMT/annum.
* Under the PMFME scheme, as of October 31st, 2025, loans have been approved to 162744 units for setting up/upgradation of micro food processing enterprises.
* **Skill Development and Training Programs:**
* The Government has taken initiatives to bridge the skill gap in the food processing sector.
* The Food Industry Capacity and Skill Initiative (FICSI) has more than 60 approved job roles.
* The PMFME scheme includes capacity building training conducted by State/UT Governments.
* Short-term training of 24 Hours/3 Days, Food Processing EDP is implemented for all applicants recommended for availing credit linked grant by District Level Committee (DLC).
* 8 hours/1 day training to SHG beneficiaries of Seed Capital. 1,09,312 beneficiaries have been trained across India from 2020-21 till 2024-25.
* National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) run graduation and post-graduation courses.
* NIFTEMs trained 32255 and 1516 persons through skill/capacity building/entrepreneurship development programmes respectively during the period from 2018-19 till 2024-25.
* FICSI has trained and certified over 2.72 lakh candidates in food-processing job roles since 2015-16, including 2.60 lakh candidates under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders Impacted**: Farmers and Agricultural Producers
* **Impact:** Reduction in post-harvest losses leading to increased income and value realization for their produce.
* **Action Required**: Participate in the schemes and training programs offered by the Ministry to improve processing and preservation techniques.
**Stakeholders Impacted**: Food Processing Enterprises (including Micro Enterprises)
* **Impact:** Enhanced access to government support, financial assistance, and skill development programs leading to increased processing capacity and improved operations.
* **Action Required**: Avail loans, grants, and training programs under schemes like PMKSY and PMFME to upgrade their facilities and skills.
**Stakeholders Impacted**: Unemployed Individuals/Trainees
* **Impact:** Improved skills and employment opportunities in the food processing sector.
* **Action Required**: Participate in the various training programs offered by FICSI, NIFTEM, and State/UT Governments to acquire relevant skills and certifications.
**Stakeholders Impacted**: Skill Development Institutions (Schools, ITIs, Polytechnics)
* **Impact**: Opportunity to collaborate with FICSI and other organizations to offer specialized training programs in food processing.
* **Action Required**: Partner with FICSI to implement training programs and align curriculum with industry needs.
**Stakeholders Impacted**: State/UT Governments
* **Impact**: Responsibility for implementing capacity building training components of the PMFME scheme.
* **Action Required**: Conduct Food Processing EDP training for applicants and short-term training for SHG beneficiaries, in coordination with District Level Committees (DLC).
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Food Processing Industries: Primary ministry addressing the question and implementing relevant schemes.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY): Central Sector umbrella scheme aimed at creating processing/preservation capacities.
PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme: Centrally Sponsored scheme focused on formalizing micro food processing enterprises.
Food Industry Capacity and Skill Initiative (FICSI): Sector Skill Council for Food Processing, focused on skill development and training.
Indian Council for Agricultural Research – Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering & Technology (ICAR-CIPHET): Research institute that conducted studies on post-harvest losses.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3115
ANSWERED ON 18TH DECEMBER, 2025
WASTAGE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES DUE TO LACK OF PROPER
STORAGE
3115. DR. ANAND KUMAR:
Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables and
a large quantity of these gets wasted due to poor processing and lack of proper storage,
if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is aware of the fact that full-time courses are available in the
country in areas like hotel management, dietician etc. but there is a lack of dedicated
courses or skill training in the field of food processing sector and if so, the details
thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to start such dedicated courses or skill training
programmes related to food processing to promote better management and value
addition of fruits and vegetables; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, whether the Government proposes to do so in the
near future, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)
(a): Yes, sir, it is a fact that India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables. Further,
as per studies conducted by Indian Council for Agricultural Research – Central Institute of Post-
Harvest Engineering & Technology (ICAR-CIPHET), 2015 and NABARD Consultancy Service
Pvt. Ltd (NABCONS), 2022, the estimated percentage of Harvest and Post-Harvest loss of Fruits
and vegetables in India is as follows:
Crops/ Commodities Estimated Percentage Loss
As per ICAR-CIPHET As per NABCONS study
Study (2015) (2022)
Fruits 6.70-15.88 6.02-15.05
Vegetables 4.58-12.44 4.87-11.61
With the aim to reduce post-harvest losses of agricultural produce including fruit and
vegetable crops, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) supports the establishment
of the food processing industries to create processing/preservation capacities through various
component schemes of Central Sector umbrella scheme “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana
(PMKSY)” and Centrally Sponsored "PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises
(PMFME) Scheme. A total of 1619 projects have been sanctioned across the country since
inception under PMKSY, out of which 1181 projects have been completed as on 31st October,
2025 creating processing and preservation capacity of 269.61 LMT/ annum (Lakh Metric Tonne).Further, under PMFME scheme, as on 31st October, 2025 loans have been approved to 162744
units for setting up/ upgradation of micro food processing enterprises in the country.
(b) to (d): Yes, Sir. The Government has taken several initiatives to bridge the skill gap in the
food processing sector. For imparting skill training, the Food Industry Capacity and Skill Initiative
(FICSI), the Sector Skill Council for Food Processing that was established by Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has more than 60 job roles approved by the National
Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). These job roles are approved as per
qualification packs that are created by the experts based on industry requirements. All qualification
packs are updated after every 36 months to reflect the current requirements of the industry. The
approved job roles include emerging areas like plant based proteins, fortified foods and micro
credentials covering FSSAI mandated requirements and frameworks designed to ensure safety and
integrity of food products. In addition, Ministry of Food Processing Industries ensures to provide
the sector related short term training through its schemes and Institutions.
In addition, Prime Minister's Formalization of Micro Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme being
implemented by Ministry of Food Processing Industries has a capacity building training
component, under which capacity building trainings are conducted by the State/UT Governments.
It envisages short-term training of 24 Hours/3 Days, Food Processing EDP (Entrepreneurship
Development Programme) Training for all applicants viz. individuals and Groups (SHGs/ FPOs/
Cooperatives) recommended for availing credit linked grant by District Level Committee (DLC)
and 8 hours/1 day training to SHG beneficiaries of Seed Capital under the scheme engaged in
micro food processing. 1,09,312 beneficiaries have been trained across India from 2020-21 till
2024-25.
Besides the above, two Institutes of National Importance (INI’s) viz. National Institute of
Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) located at Thanjavur (Tamil
Nadu) and Kundli (Haryana) under the administrative control of this Ministry are also running
graduation and post-graduation degree courses and providing degrees in Food Technology &
Management. Further, the NIFTEMs through their short-term skill/capacity
building/entrepreneurship development programmes, trained 32255 and 1516 persons respectively
during the period from 2018-19 till 2024-25.
Further, the Food Industry Capacity and Skill Initiative [FICSI], the Sector Skill Council for
Food Processing under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, have launched
specialized training programmes in partnership with educational and technical institutions. FICSI
has trained and certified over 2.72 lakh candidates in food-processing job roles since 2015-16,
which include 2.60 lakh candidates under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
in collaboration with Schools, ITIs, Polytechnics, Food Technology Institutes, Food Processing
Industries and State Skill Missions.
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