The Central government has approved 27 new integrated cold chain projects entailing an investment of Rs 743 crore. The projects will benefit 2,57,904 farmers and create 16,200 jobs.
The projects have been approved under the scheme for integrated cold chain and value addition infrastructure of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).
The projects will help in creation of modern, innovative infrastructure and effective cold chain facilities for the food processing sector across the nation. These projects with a grant-in-aid of Rs 208 crore will help increase efficiency and sustainability in India’s food supply chain.
The projects have been approved across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
Under the Centre’s scheme of integrated cold chain and value addition infrastructure, the Ministry of Food Processing provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid at the rate of 35 percent for general areas and at 50 percent for north-eastern states, Himalayan states and Islands for storage and transport infrastructure.
Assistance is also given for value addition and processing infrastructure subject to a maximum grant-in-aid of Rs 10 crore per project for setting up integrated cold chain projects, including irradiation facility from the farm gate to the consumer.
The integrated cold chain projects will boost growth of food processing infrastructure and help in streamlining the agricultural supply chain, generate direct and indirect employment opportunities in rural areas, provide better prices to farmers, end-users, and benefit allied sectors.