Govt to undertake study to assess India's cold chain storage requirement

Agriculture and Food Processing Industries ministries have decided to institute a study to assess the total cold chain storage requirement in the country. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister for Food Processing Industries, stressed that the proposed study will assess the total requirement of cold chain storage for agricultural commodities as well as other products such as chocolates, medicines, imported commodities etc. Harsimrat Kaur Badal met Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister for Agriculture, in New Delhi on August 13, 2014 to discuss measures to promote the food processing sector through a sustained cooperation between the two ministries.
 
The study will aim to work out the district-wise national food map of the country wherein the total production of different agricultural commodities would be assessed along with the requirement of cold storage region-wise as well as the existing capacity. The gap in the requirement and the installed capacity would then be bridged through a sustained programme of addition of cold chain infrastructure. The study is expected to be completed in around 5-6 months.
 
Radha Mohan Singh said that the Food Processing Ministry should assess the requirement of funds required for additional cold storage capacity creation that can be undertaken within this financial year. He assured that, if required, further funds would be given for cold chain capacity creation as well as other initiatives of Ministry of Food Processing by transferring some funds from the Agriculture Ministry.
 
Badal informed that a Cabinet Note for a cold storage capacity of 5 lakh tonne will be moved shortly. The Agriculture Minister said his ministry would support such a proposal so that the wastage of agricultural commodities including fruits and vegetables could be reduced and better returns for farmers are ensured.
 
Badal stressed on the issue of minimum benchmark requirement of 50 acres for setting up a mega food park. She also discussed the feasibility of meeting energy requirements of mega food parks through alternative sources of energy such as solar power in such states that are facing huge energy deficit. She proposed that requirement of land for agro processing clusters be reduced to 20-25 acres in place of the existing 50 acres.