MUMBAI, 05 Dec (Commoditiescontrol): India’s agricultural landscape has witnessed significant advancements over the years, yet the issue of post-harvest losses continues to plague the sector. A recent study commissioned by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) through NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. (NABCONS) has shed light on the scale of wastage affecting various commodities. Conducted with the reference year 2020–22, the study quantifies losses at both the farm and market levels, particularly for perishable produce. The findings underscore the urgent need for infrastructure improvements and policy interventions to minimize these losses and enhance the value chain.
The study reveals that significant quantities of perishable food are lost during transportation and handling. At the farm level, losses in fruits range from 0.27% to 1.41%, while vegetables experience losses of 0.11% to 0.85%. At the market level, these figures rise slightly, with fruits losing 0.50% to 1.30% and vegetables 0.12% to 1.57%. Similarly, livestock products such as milk, eggs, and fish face varying degrees of wastage. Milk incurs a loss of 0.21% at the farm and 0.12% at the market, while eggs lose 0.30% and 0.39%, respectively. Losses in inland fish and marine fish stand at 0.14% and 0.42% at the farm, and 0.14% and 0.52% at the market. Minimal losses are observed in meat and poultry meat, both registering 0.02% at the market level.
The monetary value of post-harvest losses is staggering. Cereals such as paddy and wheat contribute ₹26,000.79 crore in losses, with paddy alone accounting for ₹12,296.67 crore and wheat ₹9,883.45 crore. Pulses, including pigeon pea and chickpea, contribute ₹9,289.21 crore, while oilseeds such as mustard and soybean add ₹10,924.97 crore. Among fruits, mango tops the list with losses amounting to ₹10,581.92 crore, followed by banana at ₹5,777.01 crore. Vegetables are similarly affected, with onion and potato leading losses at ₹5,156.32 crore and ₹5,733.84 crore, respectively.
Livestock produce, including milk, meat, and eggs, incurs an estimated loss of ₹29,871.41 crore. Eggs alone contribute ₹3,287.32 crore. These losses not only impact the agricultural economy but also exacerbate food insecurity and environmental degradation due to wasted resources.
To mitigate these challenges, the MoFPI has implemented the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2016–17. The scheme focuses on developing post-harvest infrastructure and food processing facilities, including cold storages, agro-processing clusters, and value addition infrastructure. As of October 31, 2024, 1,187 projects have been approved under PMKSY, offering financial assistance to entrepreneurs for setting up facilities to minimize post-harvest losses.
Complementing this effort, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare launched the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) in July 2020 under the Atmanirbhar Bharat package. The AIF facilitates medium- to long-term loans for building warehouses, cold storage, and processing units. These initiatives aim to create a more robust post-harvest ecosystem, reduce wastage, and improve farmer incomes by enhancing value addition.
Despite these initiatives, the scale of post-harvest losses highlights the need for greater investment in agricultural infrastructure. Climate-resilient storage systems, efficient transportation networks, and modern processing technologies must become priorities. Addressing the inefficiencies in the value chain can significantly reduce wastage, improve farmer incomes, and bolster food security.
The findings from the NABCONS study serve as a wake-up call for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and farmers. The economic, social, and environmental costs of post-harvest losses are too high to ignore. With coordinated efforts, India has the opportunity to transform its agricultural sector, reduce wastage, and establish itself as a global leader in sustainable food production.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91 98201 30172)
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