Initiatives for Reducing Food Waste

Initiatives for Reducing Food Waste

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) had commissioned a study through NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. (NABCONS), namely, “Study to determine Post harvest losses of Agri Produce in India” in 2022 with reference year 2020-22.The scope of the study was to assess post-harvest losses with respect to 54 crops/commodities across the country including the state of Punjab. The details of estimated loss of various agri-produce selectedin Punjab during various stages of processing are as below:

 

Sr. No.

Crop Name

Estimated Loss(%)

Farm Operations

Market Level

1.

Capsicum

1.49

2.82

2.

Citrus

3.62

1.78

3.

Green Pea

4.77

1.89

4.

Maize

4.04

2.87

5.

Milk

0.51

0.12

6.

Mushroom

5.45

1.25

7.

Muskmelon

3.23

2.25

8.

Paddy

2.7

0.45

9.

Potato

4.91

0.66

10.

Sugarcane

3.15

1.23

11.

Wheat

2.84

1.71

 

MoFPI co-ordinates with other Ministries and organizations to unlock the full potential and holistic development of India’s food processing sector. MoFPI co-ordinates with following Ministries, Departments, State Governments and autonomous bodies of Government of India:

 

 

 

 

 

MoFPI is actively incentivizing innovation in the food processing sector, particularly through its two autonomous institutions namely, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli, Haryana (NIFTEM-K) and National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. This collaboration focuses on fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration to strengthen the sector.

NIFTEMs, have developed a technology, called SURAKSHIT, that transforms agri-food processing waste into fully biodegradable, bio-based packaging material, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. This technology showcases a waste-to-resource approach, converting agro-waste into a useful product while promoting a circular economy.

In order to promote and ensure overall development of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been incentivizing setting up/expansion of related infrastructure through its Central Sector schemes. MoFPI is implementing Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) Scheme, Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and Centrally Sponsored PMFME Scheme across the country for promoting food processing, improved logistics, etc that also addresses the issue of post-harvest losses.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Shri Ravneet Singh in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.