Despite India's considerable agricultural produce, the inadequacies in harvest and post-harvest stages lead to huge losses.
What are the concerns?
India is one of the largest producers of over 80% of agricultural products, including some cash crops.
Conversely, harvest and post-harvest losses are a constraint in reaping the full benefits of the produce.
Post-harvest losses vary depending on crops, agricultural practices, climate, etc.
However, inadequate storage and transportation facilities are primary reasons in most cases.
Storage - Most harvested grains, fruits and vegetables are stored in traditional structures, made of grass, wood or mud.
Lack of scientific design make them susceptible to pest attack and decay.
Only 10-11% of fruits and vegetables cultivated in India use cold storage, due to the financial and infrastructural inadequacies.
Resultantly, a bulk of stored commodities is lost to insect infestation, rotting and mould growth.
Financing - Due to excess supply in the market immediately after harvest, farmers do not realise the best price.
But to prevent storage loss, farmers are compelled to sell their produce immediately, within days of harvest, at any prevailing rate.
Transport - Transferring goods from cultivation centres to processing centres or markets is another impediment.
Inadequate transportation infrastructure lead to damage of commodities.
Also, heat and humidity, in the absence of cold chain transportation, spoil the produce.
What should be done?
Storage - Technology intervention is essential to improve the storage structures and logistics.
Adequate cold chain and scientific storage infrastructure facilities are required.
It prevents storage losses and facilitates funding of post-harvest activities.
Funding - Warehousing receipts, from certified warehouses, can be used as collateral for funding from banks, etc as provided by Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act of 2007.
Access to funds can enable farmers meet the consumption and working capital requirements.
They can also monitor market prices and sell their produce as per their preference, when prices reach profitable levels.
Transport - Use of enclosed structures and cold chain transport facilities can reduce post-harvest losses due to transportation.
Freshness of fruits and vegetables and seed viability can be ensured.
In all, preventing post harvest losses can increase farmers’ revenues and can also notably aid the food security initiatives.
