Jammu Kashmir Has 7 Cold Storage Facilities as Centre Reports Major National Food Losses | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has seven cold storage and cold chain units with a combined capacity of 0.08 lakh metric tonnes, according to data presented in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, even as a national study recorded significant post-harvest food losses across key crop categories.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries informed Parliament that a NABCONS study, conducted using reference years 2020 to 2022, estimated large-scale post-harvest losses nationwide. Cereals accounted for 12.49 million tonnes of losses valued at Rs 26,000.79 crore, pulses for 1.37 million tonnes valued at Rs 9,289.21 crore, and oilseeds for 2.11 million tonnes valued at Rs 10,924.97 crore. Losses were also recorded in fruits at 7.36 million tonnes (Rs 29,545.07 crore) and vegetables at 11.97 million tonnes (Rs 27,459.08 crore). Plantation crops, including sugarcane and spices, saw 30.59 million tonnes lost worth Rs 16,412.56 crore. Livestock produce losses amounted to 3.01 million tonnes valued at Rs 29,871.41 crore, while egg losses were valued at Rs 3,287.32 crore.

Under the Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure scheme, the country currently has 622 cold storage and cold chain facilities, of which 300 are operational. Uttarakhand (1.05 lakh metric tonnes), Maharashtra (1.95 lakh metric tonnes) and West Bengal (0.84 lakh metric tonnes) hold some of the highest capacities. Jammu and Kashmir has seven facilities, five of which are complete.

The Ministry stated that it has not conducted a specific study on the direct impact of food loss on prices or greenhouse gas emissions, though it noted that reducing wastage generally helps stabilise markets and limit avoidable emissions.

On the need for expanded cold storage capacity in southern States, the Government said the cold chain scheme is demand-driven. Proposals are invited depending on available funds through expressions of interest issued on the Ministry’s website.