New Delhi, Aug 12 - Even as the prices of fruits and vegetables soar daily, the central government has admitted large volumes of agricultural produce perish before reaching consumers because of poor preservation facilities.

A study conducted by an expert committee constituted by the agriculture ministry says the post-harvest losses of horticulture produce in the country is almost 25 to 30 percent of the total production.

'Losses of horticulture produce is due to the lack of adequate post-harvest infrastructure facilities,' Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas admitted in the Rajya Sabha recently.

'With a view to minimise wastage, the government is implementing three schemes in the country,' the minister had said.

The schemes have been drawn up by three agencies - the National Horticulture Board (NHB) for development of commercial horticulture through production and harvest management; the Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in the North-Eastern states, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkhand (TMNE), and the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) for the remaining states.

'Under these schemes, financial assistance is provided for setting up of cold storages, collection centres, package houses, refrigerated vans and mobile pressing units,' Thomas had said.