NEW DELHI (Commodity Online): India government has established the National Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD) as an autonomous body which has been registered as a society in 2011 under Society Registration Act, 1860.
The mandate of NCCD is to prescribe technical standards for cold chain infrastructure for perishable food items, including fresh fruits and vegetables and undertaking their periodic revision, besides human resources development programmes for meeting the needs of skilled manpower of the cold chain sector.
The NCCD has constituted the following committees:
i) Technical specification and Standards Committees
ii) Project preparation, Appraisal and Project Certification Committee
iii) Training and HRD Committee
iv) R&D Committee
v) Test Laboratory and Product Certification Committee
vi) Application of Non-conventional Energy Sources in Cold Chain Infrastructure.
The establishment of cold chain is being supported through programmes of NHM (National Horticulture Mission), NHB(National Horticulture Board), APEDA(Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) and Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
The government has approved an amount of Rs.25.00 crore as budgetary provision for XI Plan period towards creation of cold chain infrastructure as well as establishment of NCCD.
