New Technologies and Innovations to Minimize Post-Harvest Losses in India

Written By: Jagriti S.

Introduction

Post-harvest losses (PHL) represent a significant challenge in the Indian agricultural sector, where as much as 30% of produce is wasted before reaching consumers. These losses occur at multiple stages, including harvesting, handling, storage, processing, packaging, and distribution. In a country where agriculture accounts for about 18% of the GDP and employs 58% of the population, addressing post-harvest losses is critical to ensure food security, improve farmers' income, and sustain economic growth.

Technological advancements and innovations are now playing a crucial role in minimizing these losses. This article explores key technologies and innovations being adopted to tackle post-harvest challenges across the value chain in India.

1. Cold Chain Infrastructure

A major portion of post-harvest losses is due to inadequate cold chain infrastructure. Perishable commodities such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meat require cold storage facilities to maintain freshness.

Technological Innovations in Cold Chain:

• Solar-Powered Cold Storage: Solar-based cold storage solutions, like those from companies like Ecozen Solutions, are becoming increasingly popular in rural areas where grid electricity is unreliable. These storage units help reduce the post-harvest loss of perishable products and provide an eco-friendly solution to rural farmers.
• IoT-Enabled Temperature Monitoring: Cold chain logistics have integrated IoT sensors to monitor temperature fluctuations in real-time. Companies like Inficold provide smart cooling solutions, allowing data to be sent to the cloud, enabling predictive maintenance and early fault detection to prevent spoilage.

2. Mobile and Portable Storage Solutions

Storage inadequacies at farms are one of the main reasons for post-harvest loss. Farmers in remote areas lack access to permanent storage structures.

Innovations:

• Hermetic Storage Bags: Hermetic bags are airtight and help in preserving grain quality by protecting them from insects, mold, and moisture. These bags are especially popular in regions with high humidity, like Karnataka and Kerala, preventing grain spoilage.
• Metallic Silo Technology: Improved metal silos with airtight sealing are being promoted by government programs to minimize grain loss. These silos offer protection from pests, rodents, and weather conditions.

3. Post-Harvest Processing Technologies

India has long grappled with inadequate processing infrastructure, which leads to spoilage at the initial post-harvest stage.

Key Technologies:

• High-Pressure Processing (HPP): This non-thermal method uses high pressure to inactivate microbes, preserving the freshness of food without using chemicals. It is gaining traction in the preservation of juices, meat, and dairy products.
• Pulsed Electric Field (PEF): Used to preserve liquid and semi-liquid foods, PEF is a cost-effective alternative for thermal processing, which extends shelf life and maintains nutrient levels.
• Quick-Freezing Technology: For fruits and vegetables, flash-freezing techniques help maintain nutrient quality while preventing losses due to long-distance transportation.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning

AI is transforming agriculture by making it easier to predict the likelihood of spoilage and optimize logistics to reduce losses.

Applications:

• Predictive Analytics for Harvesting: AI-powered tools help farmers decide the best time to harvest based on weather forecasts, market demand, and the physiological state of crops. This reduces losses due to premature or delayed harvesting.
• Smart Sorting and Grading Systems: AI-based sorting systems, using machine vision, can classify fruits and vegetables by size, color, and ripeness, ensuring only market-ready produce reaches consumers, minimizing spoilage during transit.
• Blockchain for Traceability: Blockchain technology is being used for creating a transparent supply chain, allowing for better tracking of food products from farm to consumer, which reduces wastage due to poor handling or quality management.

5. Drones and Remote Sensing

Drones and satellite-based remote sensing technologies are becoming integral to improving post-harvest handling and reducing losses.

Applications:

• Harvest Mapping: Drones equipped with sensors map fields to detect crop maturity and yield predictions. This helps farmers in the timely collection of crops, reducing on-field loss.
• Logistics Optimization: Drones can provide real-time monitoring of produce in storage facilities, tracking humidity, temperature, and pest infestations, allowing timely intervention.

6. Innovative Packaging Solutions

Packaging plays a crucial role in extending the shelf life of produce and reducing post-harvest losses, particularly during transportation.

Technologies:

• Biodegradable Packaging: Using plant-based materials for packaging reduces environmental impact while extending the shelf life of perishable products. Companies like Wrapitup Packaging offer eco-friendly alternatives to plastic that reduce waste and protect produce during transit.
• Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP): This technology alters the atmospheric composition inside packaging (e.g., by reducing oxygen levels) to slow down spoilage and respiration rates in fruits and vegetables, extending their shelf life by several days.

7. Farmers’ Cooperatives and Post-Harvest Management Apps

Farmers often lack access to the latest technology and information to prevent post-harvest losses. Digital platforms are bridging this gap.

Technological Solutions:

• Agri-Tech Platforms: Applications like DeHaat and Kheti Buddy connect farmers to post-harvest services, from storage to processing and market linkage. These platforms also provide educational resources on reducing post-harvest losses.
• FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations): These cooperatives enable smallholder farmers to pool resources and access technology. FPOs can adopt shared cold storage and processing facilities, reducing individual farmer costs and losses.

8. Government Initiatives and Policy Support

The Indian government has rolled out several schemes to reduce post-harvest losses through technology integration and financial support.

Key Initiatives:

• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY): This scheme focuses on the development of modern infrastructure, including cold storage, food processing units, and agro-processing clusters, aimed at reducing post-harvest losses.
• Operation Greens: This scheme aims to stabilize the supply of Tomato, Onion, and Potato (TOP) crops, which are prone to high post-harvest losses due to their perishable nature. It encourages the use of technology in supply chain management to prevent price volatility and wastage.

9. Innovative Technologies

Solar-Powered Cold Storage

• Enables rural farmers to store perishable goods without relying on an unreliable power grid.
• Example: Ecozen Solutions.

IoT-Enabled Temperature Monitoring

• Real-time tracking of temperature and humidity levels in cold chain logistics to ensure optimal storage conditions.
• Example: Inficold.

Metallic Silo Technology

• Airtight silos designed to preserve grain quality and protect against pests and weather conditions.

High-Pressure Processing (HPP)

• Non-thermal food preservation technology used to inactivate microbes while maintaining freshness.

Quick-Freezing Technology

• Flash-freezing fruits and vegetables to preserve nutrient quality and reduce spoilage during transport.

AI-Powered Predictive Analytics for Harvesting

• Analyzes weather forecasts and crop conditions to determine the optimal harvest time, reducing premature or late harvest losses.

AI-Based Sorting and Grading Systems

• Uses machine learning and computer vision to classify and sort produce by size, color, and ripeness.

Blockchain for Supply Chain Traceability

• Ensures transparent tracking of food products from farm to table, preventing handling-related spoilage.

Drones for Harvest Mapping

• Utilizes drones to map fields, assess crop maturity, and predict yields, enabling timely harvest and minimizing losses.

Agri-Tech Platforms and Apps

• Platforms like DeHaat and Kheti Buddy provide post-harvest services, including storage, processing, and market linkage for farmers.

Smart Pest Management Solutions

• IoT-enabled devices that detect and manage pest activity during storage, reducing damage to stored produce.

Mobile Grain Drying Units

• Portable grain dryers that reduce moisture content and prevent fungal growth or rot, particularly useful in rural areas.

Conclusion

Minimizing post-harvest losses in India requires an integrated approach combining infrastructure development, technological innovations, and support systems for farmers. As the country continues to adopt smart agricultural practices, investments in cold chain logistics, AI-based management systems, drones, and improved storage will be crucial in addressing the issue. By reducing post-harvest losses, India not only secures its food supply but also improves farmers' incomes and contributes to sustainable agricultural practices.

Future Prospects

As technology evolves, India is set to benefit from further innovations like nano-packaging, 3D food printing, and genetically enhanced crops that have longer shelf lives. These advancements, when combined with policy support and farmer education, hold the key to transforming post-harvest management in India.

About Global Launch Base:

Global Launch Base helps international startups expand in India. Our services include market research, validation through surveys, developing a network, building partnerships, fundraising, and strategy revenue growth. Get in touch to learn more about us.

Contact Info:

Website: www.globallaunchbase.com

LinkedIn: https://www.dhirubhai.net/company/globallaunchbase/

Email: [email protected]