New Delhi, February 13 The government has created infrastructure worth Rs 1 lakh crore to preserve fruits, vegetables, and other farm produce, which has helped reduce crop damage by up to 15 per cent, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
Responding to supplementary questions during Question Hour, he targeted the previous Congress-led government for "failing to work in this regard."
"The Congress never created any infrastructure to preserve farm produce. PM Modi realized this and created infrastructure to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore to preserve the produce of farmers.
"I am proud to tell this House that there are 44,243 custom hiring centers, 25,854 primary processing centers, 25,565 farm harvest automation, 17,779 warehouses, 4,200 grading units, and 3,549 infrastructure for smart agriculture, as well as 2827 cold storage facilities," the minister told the members.
"Due to the creation of this infrastructure, the loss of fruits and vegetables has been reduced by 5 to 15 per cent, and our fruits, vegetables, and other produce can now be properly stored," he also said.
Chouhan said that BJP workers, like himself, do not engage in politics solely to enjoy the fruits of power and occupy a position, "but they engage in politics to help in the rebuilding of the nation and to serve society and the welfare of farmers, in order to build a self-reliant and developed India."
"With this aim in view, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are trying to resolve all the issues faced by farmers. Farmers are not gods, but they are no less than gods," the minister said.
In his written reply to the question, the Agriculture Minister said that the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is a demand-driven, Central Sector scheme with uniform operational guidelines applicable across all States, including Punjab.
"As of February 9, 2026, Rs 7425.99 Crores have been sanctioned for 32014 projects under the AIF scheme for Punjab. The details of the number and nature of projects sanctioned in Punjab under the AIF Scheme are in Annexure.
"Punjab's requirement under AIF, based on the ratio of the total value of output from the agriculture and allied sector, was assessed at Rs 4713 Crores, which was later raised to Rs 9050 Crores based on performance," the minister said in response to the question by AAP MP Vikramjit Singh Sawhney on agri infrastructure in Punjab.