In India, 15% of fruits and vegetables are lost post-harvest, contributing to ongoing malnutrition and hunger issues. The primary cause is inadequate infrastructure, with small-scale farmers unable to afford necessary cooling and refrigeration within the supply chain. Furthermore, India faces significant food waste at the retail and consumer levels, with nearly 80 million tons wasted, ranking second globally after China. The situation is expected to deteriorate as climate change intensifies heat extremes in South Asia, a region highly susceptible to temperature increases.
Efforts to modernize infrastructure under Prime Minister Modi have seen limited success in the agricultural sector. Despite rising production, refrigeration remains insufficient, and outside urban centers, poor road conditions and long distances to markets exacerbate spoilage and elevate procurement costs. This is particularly problematic for perishable goods like fruits, which cannot be stored as long as grains. For example, transporting bananas from Andhra Pradesh to Bhubaneswar involves a nearly 24-hour journey, during which leaves are used in a rudimentary attempt to keep the fruit cool.
India's cold storage capacity, exceeding 30 million tons, is predominantly utilized for potatoes. The country lacks sufficient refrigerated transport and pack-house facilities for fruits and vegetables. Pawanexh Kohli, former chief of the National Centre for Cold-Chain Development, highlighted the inadequate support for small-holder farmers, leading to distress sales. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events, such as those experienced in Andhra Pradesh, exacerbate crop losses, further straining farmers' finances.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com