100% FDI Permitted for Cold Storage Facilities

Press Information Bureau: Nov 29, 2012All India Coordinated Research Project on Post-harvest Technology (ICAR) conducted a study at National level and printed the report in September, 2012. As per the study, estimated monetary value of harvest, post-harvest losses of horticultural, agricultural and livestock produce, in the country was Rs. 44143 crore at price and production value for the year 2007 - 08.

In order to increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in cold storage sector, Government has permitted 100% FDI under automatic route as per the extant FDI policy. This policy mandates minimum investment of US$ 100 million with at least 50% of total FDI being invested in 'back-end infrastructure' within three years of the first tranche of FDI, where 'back-end infrastructure' will include capital expenditure on all activities, excluding that on front-end units.

The Government is implementing following schemes which have components for increasing cold storage capacity aimed at checking wastage of horticulture and agriculture produce:

National Horticulture Mission. Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States. National Horticulture Board. Scheme of Ministry of Food Processing Industries. Scheme of Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. National Cooperative Development Corporation. Further, Government has included capital investment in creation of modern storage capacity including cold chains and post-harvest storage as an eligible sector for viability gap funding under "support to public private partnership in Infrastructure scheme".

This information was given by Shri Tariq Anwar, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

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Enhancing Cold Storage Capacity in the Country through Various Schemes

Press Information Bureau: Dec 04, 2012Government proposes to enhance existing cold storage capacity in the country by providing assistance for setting up of cold storages through various schemes listed above and by providing other concessions in service tax, excise & custom duty. The component of cold storages under these schemes is project based.

All India Coordinated Research Project on Post-harvest Technology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) conducted a study at National level and printed the report in September, 2012. As per the study, estimated harvest and post-harvest losses of crops and livestock produce was Rs.44143 crore at price and production value of 2007-08.

At present there are about 6488 cold storages having 303.80 lakh metric tones capacity in the country including Bihar. State wise details are annexed.

The Government is implementing following schemes under which grant-in-aid is provided to entrepreneurs for setting up of cold storages in the country including Bihar:

National Horticulture Mission (NHM) Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH) National Horticulture Board (NHB) Scheme of Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) Scheme of Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Scheme of National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).This information was given by Shri Tariq Anwar, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

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