Govt to assess cold chain storage required in the country
Updated: Aug 14, 2014 12:28:08pm
New Delhi, Aug 14 (KNN) To provide a fillip to the food processing sector, the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries have decided to institute a study to assess the total cold chain storage requirement in the country.
In this context, the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal met the Union Minister for Agriculture, Radha Mohan Singh in the Capital yesterday and discussed measures to promote the food processing sector through a sustained cooperation between the two Ministries, an official release said.
Badal stressed that the proposed study should assess the total requirement of cold chain storage for agricultural commodities as well as other products such as chocolates, medicines, imported commodities etc.
Further, the study would work out the district-wise national food map of the country wherein the total production of different agricultural commodities would be assessed along with the requirement of cold storage region-wise as well as the existing capacity. The gap in the requirement and the installed capacity would then be bridged through a sustained programme of addition of cold chain infrastructure.
The study would be completed in a period of around 5-6 months, Badal said.
On the other hand, Singh said that the Food Processing Ministry should assess the requirement of funds required for additional cold storage capacity creation that can be undertaken within this financial year. He assured that, if required, further funds would be given for cold chain capacity creation as well as other initiatives of Ministry of Food Processing by transferring some funds from the Agriculture Ministry.
Significantly, a Cabinet Note for a cold storage capacity of 5 lakh ton is being moved shortly according to Badal. In response, the Agriculture Minister said his Ministry would support such a proposal so that the wastage of agricultural commodities including fruits and vegetables could be reduced and better returns for farmers are ensured.
Badal also raised the issue of minimum benchmark requirement of 50 acres for setting up a mega food park. She discussed at length the feasibility of meeting energy requirements of mega food parks through alternative sources of energy such as solar power in such States that are facing huge energy deficit.
The Food Processing Minister proposed that requirement of land for Agro Processing Clusters be reduced to 20-25 acres in place of the existing 50 acres. In reply, the Agriculture Minister suggested that the Food Processing Ministry move a Cabinet Note so that flexibility could be inbuilt in the provisions regarding the same.
The meeting was attended by senior officers of both the Ministries and discussions regarding issues of diesel subsidy, improvement of fisheries project in Punjab, Road map of National Blue Revolution, and other issues concerning welfare of farmers were also held. (KNN/ES)
In this context, the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal met the Union Minister for Agriculture, Radha Mohan Singh in the Capital yesterday and discussed measures to promote the food processing sector through a sustained cooperation between the two Ministries, an official release said.
Badal stressed that the proposed study should assess the total requirement of cold chain storage for agricultural commodities as well as other products such as chocolates, medicines, imported commodities etc.
Further, the study would work out the district-wise national food map of the country wherein the total production of different agricultural commodities would be assessed along with the requirement of cold storage region-wise as well as the existing capacity. The gap in the requirement and the installed capacity would then be bridged through a sustained programme of addition of cold chain infrastructure.
The study would be completed in a period of around 5-6 months, Badal said.
On the other hand, Singh said that the Food Processing Ministry should assess the requirement of funds required for additional cold storage capacity creation that can be undertaken within this financial year. He assured that, if required, further funds would be given for cold chain capacity creation as well as other initiatives of Ministry of Food Processing by transferring some funds from the Agriculture Ministry.
Significantly, a Cabinet Note for a cold storage capacity of 5 lakh ton is being moved shortly according to Badal. In response, the Agriculture Minister said his Ministry would support such a proposal so that the wastage of agricultural commodities including fruits and vegetables could be reduced and better returns for farmers are ensured.
Badal also raised the issue of minimum benchmark requirement of 50 acres for setting up a mega food park. She discussed at length the feasibility of meeting energy requirements of mega food parks through alternative sources of energy such as solar power in such States that are facing huge energy deficit.
The Food Processing Minister proposed that requirement of land for Agro Processing Clusters be reduced to 20-25 acres in place of the existing 50 acres. In reply, the Agriculture Minister suggested that the Food Processing Ministry move a Cabinet Note so that flexibility could be inbuilt in the provisions regarding the same.
The meeting was attended by senior officers of both the Ministries and discussions regarding issues of diesel subsidy, improvement of fisheries project in Punjab, Road map of National Blue Revolution, and other issues concerning welfare of farmers were also held. (KNN/ES)
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