Storage woes, farmers grapple with post-harvest loss

Neeraj Mohan

New Delhi, February 25

According to a parliamentary standing committee report, based on a comprehensive study addressing the pervasive issue of post-harvest losses by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR-CIPHET) and NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS), the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, has shed light on the alarming percentage of wastage in various agricultural and horticultural produce. The report underscores the significant challenges faced by farmers, ranging from poor harvesting practices to inadequate storage facilities.

Up to 5.92% loss in wheat, paddy

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• In cereals’ category, comprising paddy, wheat, maize, bajra, there are post-harvest losses ranging from 3.89% to 5.92%
• Oilseeds like mustard, cottonseed, soybean, safflower, sunflower and groundnut, faced losses ranging from 2.87% in cottonseed to 7.51% in soybean
• Among fruits and vegetables, guava, with a loss of 15.05%, and tomato, with an 11.61% loss, stood out. Post-harvest losses in fruits and vegetables remain a cause for concern

The report reveals that in the cereals’ category, comprising paddy, wheat, maize, bajra and sorghum, there have been post-harvest losses ranging from 3.89 per cent to 5.92 per cent. Manual methods such as sickle and sticks used for harvesting and threshing were identified as primary contributors to these losses. Losses ranging from 5.65 per cent in pigeon pea to 6.74 per cent in chickpea were also recorded. Issues like shattering of grain during harvesting and mishandling during various operations were reasons behind the damage.

Similarly, oilseeds like mustard, cottonseed, soybean, safflower, sunflower, and groundnut, faced losses ranging from 2.87 per cent in cottonseed to 7.51 per cent in soybean. Harvesting and threshing at farm operations, coupled with improper storage conditions in market channels, led to these losses.

Post-harvest losses, with respect to fruits and vegetables in the country, ranged from 4.58 per cent to 11 per cent, which remains a big cause of concern.

Among fruits and vegetables, guava, with a loss of 15.05 per cent, and tomato, with an 11.61 per cent loss, stood out. Even in the case of eggs, meat, milk, and fish, notable post-harvest losses were observed. Mishandling at the farm level, lack of cold storage facilities, and various stages of spillage were identified as common factors contributing to losses.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries identifies several significant challenges currently impeding the sector in India. These include a dearth of product development and innovation, gaps in the supply chain infrastructure, characterised by insufficient primary processing and storage facilities, lack of connection between production and processing attributed to the scarcity of process-able varieties, seasonality of operations leading to low capacity utilisation, institutional gaps in the supply chain particularly related to procurement in APMC markets, and inadequate emphasis on maintaining quality as well as safety standards. Addressing these challenges is crucial for fostering growth and efficiency of the food processing industry. On the flip side, the report indicates a significant reduction in post-harvest losses for many crops compared to the 2014-15 assessment, but the challenges to cut down the losses further still persist.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries claimed that it was actively implementing schemes that offered grants-in-aid to establish efficient food processing infrastructure with a well-connected supply chain nationwide. The Ministry claimed that in September last year, 491 projects and units have been approved (excluding those that have been withdrawn or cancelled) under CEFPPC Scheme with total project cost of Rs 8,094.48 crore, including grants-in-aid of Rs 1911.29 crore.