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Expanding India's cold chain and reducing post-harvest losses
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Monday, 08 December, 2025, 15 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The government is making substantial progress in strengthening India's agricultural supply chain infrastructure through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). Specifically, the component scheme on "Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure" is working to minimize post-harvest losses by ensuring a seamless, break-free cold chain from the farm gate to the consumer.
The scheme has seen significant implementation, with 404 projects approved nationwide, and 300 of these projects already completed and operational. The infrastructure developed includes a vast network of new cold storages, pack houses, reefer vans (refrigerated transport), and ripening chambers.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) highlighted the expansion across several states. Maharashtra leads with 77 approved projects (58 completed), creating the largest capacity, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Collectively, the completed projects have added over 6,485 ripening chambers and 616 cold storage units across the country to preserve perishable produce.
This infrastructure growth is also reflected in the country's processed food exports, which experienced a general upward trend over the past five years. Exports of preparations of meat, fish, or aquatic invertebrates have consistently increased, reaching Rs 6,685.64 crore in 2024-25. Similarly, exports of miscellaneous edible preparations soared to Rs 14,506.54 crore in the same period, demonstrating the positive impact of improved value addition infrastructure on global trade.
In terms of financial commitment, the scheme has maintained steady budget utilization. In the financial year 2024-25, the actual expenditure was Rs 113.52 crore. For the current year, Rs 65.43 crore has been spent as of November 27, 2025, from a budget estimate of Rs 171.63 crore, showing continued investment in future cold chain development.
While MoFPI does not issue standardised protocols due to the varied requirements of different food commodities and technologies, the monitoring of temperature and hygiene standards is managed by the various quality control and development agencies involved in the cold chain sector. The continued expansion of this integrated infrastructure is crucial for boosting farm income, enhancing food safety, and strengthening India’s position in the global food processing market.
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