The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing the scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (Cold Chain scheme) since 2008 for establishing cold chain projects under various sectors (including fruit and vegetable sector) across the country and subsequently, the scheme has been amalgamated with the Central Sector Umbrella scheme- viz. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana(PMKSY) since 2017. However, supporting of cold chain projects pertaining to fruit & vegetable sector was discontinued w.e.f. 08.06.2022 under Cold Chain scheme and this sector has been shifted to Operation Greens scheme, an another component scheme of PMKSY.

MoFPI does not set up any food processing units under PMKSY on its own. The scheme is demand driven and applications / proposals are invited from eligible entities as per the extant scheme guidelines of the Cold Chain scheme through floating of Expression of Interest from time to time based on availability of funds. The proposals received are scrutinized for their eligibility and evaluated based on the criteria fixed as per the extant scheme guidelines. Merit based approvals are given to the eligible proposals based on availability of funds.

Cold chain projects can be set up by individuals (including farmers) as well as entity / organization (such as FPOs/ FPCs/ NGOs/ PSUs/ Firms/ Companies, etc.). Under Cold Chain scheme, financial assistance in the form of grants-in-aid/ subsidy is provided @ 35% of eligible project cost for projects in general areas and 50% of eligible project cost for projects in difficult areas as well as for projects of SC/ST, FPOs and SHGs, subject to the maximum of  ₹ 10.00 crore per project.

MoFPI has been establishing cold chain projects under the cold chain scheme by inviting proposals across the country through floating Expression of Interests from time to time based on availability of funds. The consent of State Governments is not required for storage of food commodities in the cold chain projects approved by MoFPI. However, the assistance of the State Governments is required for obtaining statutory approvals essential for establishing the projects by the project implementing agencies.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Shri Ravneet Singh in Lok Sabha in reply to a question today.

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