Cold chain projects costing Rs 743 cr approved in 11 states. J&K not in the list.

Ziraat Times News

Srinagar: Modern integrated cold chain projects costing Rs 743 cr have been approved in 11 states under PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of Food Processing Industries, has said. Interestingly, J&K is not among the 11 states where the projects have been approved.

The 27 projects which have been approved under the scheme for integrated cold chain and value addition infrastructure of PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) is estimated to provide direct and indirect employment for 16,200 farmers.

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.

Observers opine that Jammu & Kashmir being primarily an agrarian economy with significant produce in fruits and vegetables should have been included in this new venture of modernizing supply chain in the agriculture sector.

The ministry of food processing industries has informed that the 27 new integrated cold chain projects will leverage a total investment of Rs 743 crores for the creation of modern, innovative infrastructure, and cold chain facilities for the food processing sector across the nation. The facilities are aimed at increasing efficiency and sustainability in India’s food supply chain.

The new integrated cold chain projects are likely to generate thousands of direct and indirect employment, benefitting around 2.58 lakh farmers, Ms Badal said.

Saving the perishable produce, by provisioning adequate infrastructure, shall not only help in augmenting farmer’s incomes but it shall also act as a small step towards making India self-reliant in the fruits and vegetables sector, the minister added.