India's record harvests drive a massive expansion in agricultural storage infrastructure

India's agricultural sector remains a vital part of the economy, supporting food security, jobs, and growth. Recent government schemes have boosted storage and processing, helping farmers manage record harvests.

In 2024-25, the country produced a record 353.96 million tonnes of foodgrains, including 117.51 million tonnes of wheat and 149.07 million tonnes of rice. To handle this output, key initiatives like the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and the World's Largest Grain Storage Plan have expanded storage and processing facilities.

The AIF has approved funding of ₹73,155 crore for 1.27 lakh projects by September 2025. Meanwhile, the Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) scheme has sanctioned 49,796 projects, adding 982.94 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of storage capacity. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies also maintain 83 million metric tonnes of covered storage for central pool grains.

Cold storage infrastructure has grown too, with 8,815 units offering 21 million metric tonnes of capacity for perishable goods. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) has further strengthened processing, approving 1,601 projects—1,133 of which are now operational, adding 255.66 LMT of processing capacity.

Support for Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) has also increased, with 5,937 new registrations and 73,492 computerized as of June 2025. Additionally, the Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme offers credit-linked subsidies of 35% (or 50% in hilly and northeastern regions) for cold and controlled atmosphere storage units ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 metric tonnes.

These developments aim to modernise India's agricultural infrastructure, ensuring better storage, reduced waste, and improved market access for farmers. With expanded capacity and financial support, the sector is better equipped to handle future production growth.