The Indian horticulture industry is making losses estimated at more than Rs2tn (US$32.7bn) annually due to poor post-harvest practices and facilities, the Economic Times reports.
Inadequate cold storage facilities and a shortage of proper food processing units have been identified in a study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) as the major causes of the losses.
These facilities are vital for post-harvest management of fresh produce, given that it is highly perishable.
Assocham’s study states that 30 per cent of India’s fresh produce is rendered unfit for consumption as a result of spoilage after harvesting.
The study ranks the states in order of their annual losses, with West Bengal topping the list at around Rs130.6bn (US$2.135bn), followed by Gujarat, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
'Lack of proper storage facility is responsible for wastage of substantial quantities of fruits and veggies produced in the country which can be prevented to a great extent,' the secretary general of Assacham D.S. Rawat told the Economic Times.
Rawat identified proper cultural operations, harvesting, transportation, storage and pre- and post-harvest treatments as the key factors in minimising the country’s post-harvest losses in the fresh produce industry.
To achieve capacity for India’s total fresh produce yields, cold storage facilities needed to be expanded to accommodate a further 7m tonnes of fruit and vegetables, the study added.
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