In India, 15% of fruits and vegetables are lost post-harvest, contributing to ongoing malnutrition and hunger issues. The primary cause is inadequate infrastructure, with small-scale farmers unable to afford necessary cooling and refrigeration within the supply chain. Furthermore, India faces significant food waste at the retail and consumer levels, with nearly 80 million tons wasted, ranking second globally after China. India's cold storage capacity, exceeding 30 million tons, is predominantly utilized for potatoes. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events, such as those experienced in Andhra Pradesh, exacerbate crop losses, further straining farmers' finances.

Source: Economic Times May 24, 2024 12:58 UTC