The Ministry of Food Processing Industries on March 28, 2017 sanctioned 101 Cold Chains projects across the country. The top states that will get maximum benefits through these projects are
- Maharashtra – 21 projects,
- Uttar Pradesh – 14 projects,
- Gujarat – 12 projects,
- Andhra Pradesh – 8 projects,
- Punjab – 6 projects,
- Madhya Pradesh – 6 projects and
- Karnataka – 4 projects.
These projects are inaugurated by Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
Background
The Ministry had announced sanction of 30 Cold Chain Projects in May, 2015. Now, Ministry announces sanction of 101 new integrated Cold Chain Projects spread across the country. It has been constantly involved in setting up new cold chain infrastructure which has both cold storage and processing facilities.
Government and Private Contributions
- The government would provide Rs 838 crore as grant-in-aid to set up these 101 projects.
- The remaining fund of Rs 2,200 crore will be raised by Private sectors.
Benefits
- 6 lakh farmers are expected to benefit from the 101 project which mainly focuses on daily usage products.
- Direct and indirect employment opportunities to 60,000 people would be made available on behalf of these projects.
- About 4.7 billion kilograms of agricultural and horticultural produce worth Rs 12,000 crore will be processed in these cold chain projects, reducing wastage by 13%.
- These projects will create additional capacity of 2760 lakh kilograms of cold storage, controlled atmosphere and frozen storage, 115000 kilograms per hour of Individual Quick Freezing (IQF).
- In addition to that 56 lakh liters per day of milk processing, 210000 kilograms per batch of blast freezing, and 629 refrigerated and insulated vehicles are made.
Time period
The industries that are sanctioned with cold chain projects have to complete their facilities within 18 months. If not, the government would deduct 1% of the grant-in-aid amount per month if the projects are delayed.
Projects in different sectors
Out of 101 projects, 53 are in the fruits and vegetables sector, 33 in dairy category and 15 in the meat-marine-poultry category.
About Ministry of Food Processing Industries
- Ministry of Food Processing Industries is the Ministry of the Government of India formed in 1988 and headquartered in New Delhi.
- The Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal heads the department and Niranjan Jyoti, acts as head for the Ministry of State for Food Processing Industries.
- The department is started for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to food processing in India.