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FDI IN RETAIL - POST HARVEST LOSSES

GOVERNMENT MISLEADING THE NATION - CAIT

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has alleged the Government for misleading the nation on the matter of wastage of fruits and vegetable in India for which FDI in Retail is needed. The CAIT said that the reports of Planning Commission's Working Group on Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure for 12th Five Year Plan has while citing the report of Indian Council on Agricultural Research(ICAR) has contradicted the claim of the Government that currently 30% to 40% Fruits and Vegetables produced in the Country are wasted. The Union Commerce Minister Mr. Anand Sharma has repeatdly argued the need of FDI in Retail in order to curtail such wastage. Even the Prime Ministers address to the nation also mentioned the said figure of wastage.

CAIT Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal has asked the Union Commerce Minister to divulge the source or reference or study report based on which he is continuosly claiming wastage of fruits and vegetables upto 30% to 40% .It is a wrong statement of the Govt which has been propounded just to facilitate the entry of FDI in Retail Trade-said Mr. Khandelwal

Mr. Khandelwal while contesting the claim of the Government cited the report of the Working Group of Planning Commission which has inserted figures of post harvest losses on the basis of the survey report of ICAR which stated as under.

Status of Post-harvest Losses

Crop Minimum % Loss Maximum % Loss

Crop	Minimum % Loss	Maximum % Loss
Cereals	3.9 (Sorghum)	6.0 (Wheat)
Pulses	4.3 (Chick Pea)	6.1 (Black Gram)
Oilseeds	2.8 (Cottonseed)	10.1 (Groundnut)
Fruit	5.8 (Sapota)	18.0 (Guava)
Vegetables	6.8 (Cauliflower)	12.4 (Tomato)
Spices	3.9 (Black Pepper)	7.4 (Turmeric)
Livestock	0.8 (Milk)	6.9 (Inland Fish)

Mr. Khandelwal said that all the proponents of the FDI in Retail has been arguing on this line.He further said thet Agro Experts and Dealers in these agro commodities have stated the percentage of wastage upto 30% to 40% as incorrect and bogus in their responses to Consultation paper of DIPP which were deeply ignored.

He further said that based on the ICAR study and planning working group this post harvest losses are nowhere around the staggering percentage quoted by the Government..It appears that the Govt is basing these bogus figures for making up a case for allowing FDI in Multi Brand Retail.