Union Cabinet approves setting up centre for cold chain development

09 Feb 2012 Evaluate

In an effort to curb the significant losses of perishables post harvest, the Union Cabinet has given its approval to set up National Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD). The move has come keeping in view the recommendations given by the Task Force on Cold Chain Development (2008) and those of the National Spot Exchange (NSE), in its study on Cold Chain Grid in India (2010).

India is the second largest producer of horticultural commodities in the world, with production of 71.5 million tonnes (MT) of fruits, 133.7 MT of vegetables and 17.8 MT of other commodities like flowers, spices, coconut, cashew, mushroom and honey. However, a significant portion of the produce, particularly perishables like fruits, vegetables, flowers etc. goes waste due to the lack of storage facilities. A Parliamentary panel had also pointed out that post harvest losses of fruits and vegetables are as high as 35%, valuing more than Rs 50,000 crore annually.

With these facts in mind the constitution of National Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD) has been approved. NCCD will be set up as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 with its Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations. A sum of Rs 25 crore as one time grant for setting up a corpus fund for NCCD has also been approved.

The centre will be run by a 22-member governing council under the chairmanship of a secretary. All stakeholders will have membership in the society in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The members will be comprised of various government officials, representative from industry bodies like CII, FICCI and stakeholders like growers, cold chain equipment manufacturers.

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