Friday, August 24, 2012

31 Cold Chain Projects Worth Rs. 619 Crore Approved
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has approved 28 cold chain projects worth Rs. 618.88 crore.

The Food Processing Industries Ministry implements the Scheme of Integrated Cold Chain, Value Addition & Preservation Infrastructure (part of scheme of Infrastructure Development) and under which it provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid @ 50% of the total cost of plant and machinery and technical civil works in general areas, and @75% of the total cost of plant and machinery and technical civil works in difficult areas including North-Eastern states subject to a maximum of Rs. 10.00 crore for strengthening and value addition of cold chain infrastructure.

Other Government organizations like National Horticulture Mission (NHM), National Horticulture Board (NHB), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and State Governments also provide assistance for cold storages. The Schemes of the Ministry and other organizations are being implemented in the entire country.

After identification of ‘Creation and Management of cold chain infrastructure’ for agriculture as a thrust areas by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Planning Commission has constituted a Committee under Sr. Saumitra Chaudhuri. This Committee has made a number of recommendations for augmenting the facilities of cold chain and cold storages in the country. The Ministry has already initiated actions on various short term, mid term and long term recommendations of the committee. In order to oversee the implementation of policies and programmes for cold chain infrastructure, an Inter Ministerial Group (IMG) has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Dr. Charan Das Mahant in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today. 

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