New Technology Needed to Protect Crops After Harvest

11-Apr-2025 05:07 PM

New Delhi: India faces a major challenge in safely storing crops post-harvest, with around 10% of food grains lost annually due to inadequate storage facilities. This not only causes economic losses but also poses a threat to food security in the country.

To tackle this, a Delhi-based agri logistics firm is introducing a digital warehouse management solution aimed at minimizing post-harvest losses.

The biggest issue lies in remote areas, where mandis are distant and warehouse infrastructure is lacking.

Farmers, especially small and marginal ones, struggle with delays in grain quality checks and getting fair prices.

The challenge doesn’t end at the farm. Farmers have to pay for quality testing in certified labs and wait two to three days for results before heading to markets. Meanwhile, their produce often lies in the open, vulnerable to weather damage.

Despite government efforts to improve the situation, storage capacity remains limited. India, the world’s third-largest grain producer, generates over 300 million tonnes of food grains annually, but has storage for only 145 million tonnes.

In 2023-24, the country produced an estimated 332.29 million tonnes, with a 10% grain loss and over 30% loss in fruits and vegetables.

Experts say advanced technology and infrastructure upgrades are urgently needed to protect crops and ensure farmers get their due.