**Policy Summary: Addressing Post-Harvest Losses in Indian Agriculture**
A 2022 study commissioned by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and conducted by NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. (NABCONS) assessed post-harvest losses of agricultural produce in India, using 2020-22 as the reference period. The study, covering 54 commodities across 15 Agro-Climatic Zones and 292 districts, identified gaps in infrastructure, technology, and skills. Key findings on post-harvest losses include: Cereals (3.89-5.92%), Pulses (5.65-6.74%), Oil Seeds (2.87-7.51%), Fruits (6.02-15.05%), Vegetables (4.87-11.61%), Plantation Crops & Spices (1.29-7.33%), Milk (0.87%), Inland Fisheries (4.86%), Marine Fisheries (8.76%), Meat (2.34%), Poultry (5.63%), and Eggs (6.03%). Inefficient harvesting, handling, storage, and transportation were cited as primary causes for losses in vegetables, cereals, plantation crops, and fruits.
The government is addressing these losses through various schemes, including:
* **Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH):** Supports infrastructure for post-harvest management like cold storages and pack houses.
* **Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF):** Provides debt financing for post-harvest infrastructure, including warehousing and cold chains.
* **Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) Scheme:** Supports storage and marketing infrastructure to strengthen supply chains.
* **National Agriculture Market (e-NAM):** Promotes market access and price discovery to reduce transit losses.
* **Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs):** Promoting 10,000 FPOs to facilitate aggregation, primary processing, and market linkages.
* **Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY):** Implemented by MoFPI since 2016-17, to create post-harvest infrastructure and processing facilities.
This information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on July 25, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture Farmers Welfare: The Indian governmental ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries: The Indian governmental ministry responsible for the food processing sector.
NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.: A consultancy firm, also known as NABCONS, that conducted a study on post-harvest losses in India.
India: The country where the post-harvest losses study was conducted and where the schemes are being implemented.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture: A scheme that supports the creation of infrastructure for postharvest management.
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund: A scheme that provides debt financing for investment in viable postharvest management infrastructure.
Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure: A scheme that supports creation of storage and marketing infrastructure.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana: A Central Sector Umbrella Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries to create postharvest infrastructure and processing facilities.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
SCHEMES TO MINIMISE POST-HARVEST
LOSSES
Posted On: 25 JUL 2025 6:30PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) commissioned a study in 2022 namely, “Study to determine
Post harvest losses of Agri Produces in India” with reference year 2020-22 through NABARD Consultancy
Services Pvt. Ltd. (NABCONS). The study was conducted for assessment of post-harvest losses for 54
commodities across 15 Agro-Climatic Zones for various categories, spread across 292 districts of India. The
study identified the gaps in infrastructure development, technology infusion and skill requirements in the
sector. The study highlighted post-harvest losses of major crops and commodities as detailed below:
Crops/ Commodities Loss (%)
Cereals 3.89-5.92
Pulses 5.65-6.74
Oil Seeds 2.87-7.51
Fruits 6.02-15.05
Vegetables 4.87-11.61
Plantation Crops & Spices 1.29-7.33
Milk 0.87
Fisheries (Inland) 4.86
Fisheries (Marine) 8.76
Meat 2.34
Poultry 5.63
Egg 6.03
The reported losses in vegetables, cereals, plantation crops, and fruits were primarily due to inefficient
harvesting, handling, storage, and transportation.
Government is proactively addressing the challenge of post-harvest losses through a comprehensive and
integrated approach embedded within multiple flagship schemes aimed at strengthening the agricultural value
chain. Key initiatives include:
i. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): Supports creation of infrastructure for
post-harvest management including cold storages, ripening chambers, and pack houses to minimize
wastages in fruits and vegetables.
ii. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF): Provides medium to long-term debt financing for investment in
viable post-harvest management infrastructure including warehousing, cold chains, and primary
processing units.
iii. Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) Scheme: Supports creation of storage and marketinginfrastructure to strengthen supply chains and reduce post-harvest losses at the market level.
iv. National Agriculture Market (e-NAM): Promotes better market access and price discovery, reducing
transit losses through a more efficient supply chain.
v. In addition, Government actively promotes the formation & promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer
Organisations (FPOs) to facilitate aggregation, primary processing, and market linkages.
vi. In addition to above, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing Central
Sector Umbrella Scheme - Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2016-17 to create
post-harvest infrastructure and processing facilities to boost overall development of the food processing
sector including reduction in post-harvest losses, enhancing value addition etc.
This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, shri Shri Ramnath
Thakur in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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RC/ KSR/AR
(Release ID: 2148529)