'Government Has Taken Steps To Contain Food Price Rise'

Agriculture is a key sector in India and it employs around 52% of our population. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare implements the rules, regulations, and laws related to the agricultural sector in India. The department’s ambit covers agriculture, food processing, and cooperation. BE’s Madhu Raina spoke to Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of State for Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on the agricultural sector and his department’s policies related to the sector.

- Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Q. Some reports suggest that India is one of the top countries for the losses of agricultural commodities in the post-harvest situation. Is it true? Is the government taking any action to reduce such losses?

A. According to a report in 2015 on “Assessment of Quantitative Harvest and Post-Harvest Losses of Major Crops and Commodities in India” prepared by Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), the harvest and post-harvest losses for agriculture commodities range from 4.65-5.99% for cereals, 6.36-8.41% for pulses, 3.08-9.96% for oilseeds, 6.7-15.88% for fruits and 4.58- 12.44% for vegetables. The total estimated economic value of quantitative loss was found to the tune of ₹92,651 crore in reference to the average annual prices of 2014. There are no authentic data available on global ranking of India as one of the top countries in terms of post-harvest losses of agricultural commodities.