Government of India
constituted a Working Group on Post Harvest Management, Marketing
and Exports in 1995. This Group estimated that post harvest
losses in different crops range from 8 per cent to 37 per cent.
These losses occur during different stages after harvest. The
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research has assessed that
losses occur at different stages like harvesting, transport,
storage, processing & packing and marketing etc.
In addition
to better post harvest handling and cold storage, to prevent
wastage, development of food processing industries is the key
to better utilization of fruits and vegetables. Assistance for
various post harvest operations like setting up pack house,
value added centre, cold storage, infrastructure like food park,
cold chain etc., setting up of food processing industries, their
technology up gradation, modernisation etc. is available under
the Plan Schemes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry
of Food Processing Industries. Besides, agencies like NHB, APEDA,
NCDC also provide assistance under their respective schemes.
This information
was given in Rajya Sabha today by the Minister of State for
Food Processing Industries Shri N.T. Shanmugam in a written
reply.
