The “Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure” is one government initiative that offers financial support for the construction of cold chains in India’s horticulture industry. Common names for this program include “Cold Chain Scheme” and “Cold Chain Development Program.” The Government of India’s Ministry of Food Processing Industries is in charge of carrying it out.
The main goals of the Cold Chain Scheme typically consist of:
Infrastructure Development: The program intends to encourage the creation of an integrated cold chain and infrastructure for value addition in the horticulture industry. In order to handle, store, and transport horticultural goods effectively, it supports the construction of cold storage facilities, pre-cooling units, pack houses, ripening chambers, reefer trucks, and other infrastructure elements.
Preservation and Quality Maintenance: The plan’s main goals are to keep horticulture produce’s quality intact and increase its shelf life. In order to maintain the freshness, nutritional value, and marketability of horticulture commodities, it encourages the implementation of best practices and technologies for cold storage, controlled environment storage, temperature-controlled transportation, and other post-harvest interventions.
The Cold Chain Scheme places a strong emphasis on horticulture produce’s value addition and processing. In order to increase the market value and diversify the product line of horticulture commodities, it encourages the building of processing units, pack houses, grading and sorting units, and other value-added facilities.
