India, the Second Largest Producer of Fruits and Vegetables

India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world with 74.877 million metric tonnes production of fruits and 146.554 million metric tonnes production of vegetables for the year 2010-11.

The cumulative wastages in fruits and vegetables is estimated 5.8% to 18%. As per study by the Central Institute for Post Harvest Engineering & Technology, Ludhiana (published in 2010) post-harvest losses of major agricultural produces including fruits and vegetables at National level were estimated to the tune of about Rs. 44,000 crore per annum. “Creation and Management of cold chain infrastructure” for agriculture has been identified a thrust area by the Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid. Other agencies of the Government like National Horticulture Mission (NHM), National Horticulture Board (NHB), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and State Government’s 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 Rajya Sabha today.