New Delhi: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is expanding support for food irradiation technology to strengthen India’s cold chain infrastructure, reduce post-harvest losses and improve food safety. Details were shared in a background note released on Tuesday.
The ministry said it is financing the establishment of multiproduct food irradiation units under the Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure (ICCVAI) component of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). The government approved a ₹1,000-crore outlay in July 2025 for setting up 50 new irradiation units across the country.
Food irradiation—widely used in India for potatoes, onions, spices, mangoes, cereals and pulses—is a scientifically validated process in which controlled ionising radiation kills bacteria, insects and mould without making food radioactive. The technique is endorsed by international scientific bodies, including the American Medical Association and the Institute of Food Technologists.
Expanding cold chain capacity
As of June 2025, 395 integrated cold chain projects have been approved since the scheme’s launch. Of these, 291 are operational, adding 25.52 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of preservation capacity and creating more than 1.74 lakh jobs. Between 2016-17 and 2025, the government released ₹1,535.63 crore in grants for 269 projects, with 169 projects becoming operational during this period.
Under ICCVAI, 16 irradiation projects have been approved so far, nine of which are already operational. Grants of ₹112.99 crore have been sanctioned, with ₹68.38 crore released.
The expanded July 2025 financial outlay raised the PMKSY budget to ₹6,520 crore for the 15th Finance Commission period. Besides 50 irradiation units, the package includes support for 100 NABL-accredited food testing laboratories.
Improving safety and reducing waste
The ministry said irradiation is an important tool for ensuring food safety, preventing sprouting in tubers, extending shelf life and meeting export quarantine requirements. India uses gamma rays, X-rays and electron beam facilities for different categories of produce. Cobalt-60 for gamma irradiation is supplied by the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) under the Department of Atomic Energy.
Consumers are advised to check FSSAI licence numbers and quality certifications such as HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC, Agmark and BIS when purchasing irradiated products.
ICCVAI scheme support
Financial assistance of 35% of eligible project cost is available in general areas and 50% in difficult areas—including the North-East, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and ITDP regions—as well as for SC/ST-led entities, FPOs and SHGs. The grant is capped at ₹10 crore per project. Eligible applicants include individuals, companies, FPOs, SHGs, NGOs and PSUs, with a minimum land requirement of one acre.
The ministry has invited proposals under the scheme through its online portal for setting up multi-product irradiation units.
Strengthening the supply chain
MoFPI said the expanded cold chain and irradiation infrastructure will help reduce spoilage, increase farmer income and ensure year-round availability of fresh and safe produce. By enabling scientific storage and processing, the programme is expected to reduce distress sales and improve price realisation for farmers while providing consumers with higher-quality food.
Officials said the initiative marks a major step towards building a modern, resilient and efficient food supply system.
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