Government Encourages Setting up of Cold Chain Facilities
To encourage setting up of cold chain facilities in the country, Government is operating several Plan Schemes under which financial assistance is provided for setting up of cold storages / cold chain facilities. Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI) has also a Plan Scheme for Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure during the 11th Plan to provide financial assistance to project proposals received from public / private organizations for cold chain infrastructure development. The scheme envisages 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% for North Eastern Region and 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 and processing for horticulture including organic produce, marine, dairy, poultry, etc.
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation as well as Ministry of Commerce and State Governments also provide financial assistance for cold storages under their respective schemes through their agencies like National Horticulture Board (NHB), Agricultural and Processing Food Products Development Authority (APEDA), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
Rs.210 crore has been allocated for the purpose of development of Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure during the 11th Plan. The scheme is project oriented not State specific.
Further, up-scaling of scheme has been approved for remaining period of 11th plan for taking up of new proposals for development of Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Shri Harish Rawat in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
SB:CP: cold storage (Lok) 1.3.2011