SCHEME FOR INTEGRATED COLD CHAIN & VALUE ADDITION

Subject : Govt Schemes

Context : Government has approved 21 projects, leveraging investment worth 443 crore rupees supported with a grant of 189 crore rupees under the Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition.

Concept :

• The objective of the scheme is to provide integrated cold chain, preservation and value addition infrastructure facilities without any break, from the farm gate to the consumer in order to reduce post-harvest losses of horticulture and non-horticulture agri-produce.
• Integrated cold chain and value addition infrastructure projects can be set up by Partnership/ Proprietorship Firms, Companies, Corporations, Cooperatives, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), NGOs, Central/State PSUs, etc. with business interest in cold chain solutions and also by those who manage supply chain.

Components of the scheme

• The scheme allows flexibility in project planning with special emphasis on the creation of cold chain infrastructure at farm level. The scheme will have the following project components:
• Farm Level Infrastructure, which may include processing center, situated in the catchment area of the targeted produce
• Distribution hub: This shall have a modern multi-product, multi-temperature cold storage.
• Refrigerated vans/ refrigerated trucks/ insulated vans/mobile insulated tankers.
• Irradiation facility.

Significance

• These Integrated Cold Chain projects will not only provide a big boost to the growth of food processing infrastructure in the concerned states but also help in providing better prices to farmers and is a step towards doubling of farmers’ income.
• The infrastructure will also reduce wastage of perishables, add value to the agricultural produce and create huge employment opportunities, especially in rural areas.