APPROVAL: 62 Cold Chain Projects Approved by FPI Ministry

New Delhi, November 27, 2012: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has approved 62 projects so far for establishing cold chain facilities to be implemented by the private/co-operative sectors. These projects are eligible for grants-in-aid in accordance with the Plan Scheme for this purpose.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI) through its various schemes for financial assistance and other promotional measures, facilitates creation of post harvest processing infrastructure including processing facilities aimed at reducing wastages, enhancing value addition and increasing shelf life in the country.

Under the Scheme for Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure 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 is provided by the Ministry in difficult areas subject to a maximum of Rs.10.00 crore. The initiatives are aimed at filling the gaps in the supply chain, strengthening of cold chain infrastructure, establishing value addition with infrastructural facilities like sorting, grading, packaging, processing and preservation for horticultural and non horticultural products like marine, dairy, poultry, etc. Other agencies of the Government like National Horticulture Board (NHB), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and State Government also provide assistance for cold storages under their respective schemes.

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