Innovations in Indian Agriculture: Reducing Produce Losses and Boosting Farmer Income

Kapil Jain’s father had a vision for his children – to escape the toils of farming and pursue a different path in life. He recognized the hardships that farmers often face and encouraged his family to seek education and urban careers. For a while, Kapil Jain followed this advice and led a life in the city. However, a longing for the rural way of life led him back to his family’s farm near Kota in Rajasthan, northern India. “I realized that I like the touch of the earth and wanted to move back to the village and start farming,” he shares. Yet, he sought a different approach from traditional crops like wheat, rice, mustard, and soybeans, especially considering the water scarcity prevalent in his region.

His innovative solution was to cultivate roses. Roses are well-suited for the region’s sunny conditions and require relatively less water than conventional crops. However, a unique challenge arose in marketing them. Roses needed to be sold within hours of being picked to prevent petal wilting, and the market was around 20 miles away, making timely delivery a challenge. This led to picking the roses between 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning, creating a labor shortage. Consequently, Kapil Jain faced significant losses – around 70% of his initial harvest.

Faced with these challenges, Kapil Jain decided to transform his roses into valuable products such as rose water and rose oil. He also implemented a solar-powered drying system for his tomato crop. This move allowed him to diversify his product range and extend the shelf life of his produce, ultimately aiding his business’s growth.

The challenge of preserving harvested produce’s quality and reaching markets in good condition is one that farmers across India grapple with. Government figures from 2022 reveal that India lost between 6% and 15% of its fruits, between 5% and 12% of its vegetables, and between 4% and 6% of its cereals due to various factors, including a lack of infrastructure and limited processing capacity, as well as disruptions caused by natural disasters.

Varun Raheja, the founder of Raheja Solar Food Processing, recognized the need for a cost-effective solution. He developed a simple air-drying system powered by solar energy and fans, making it portable and affordable. His firm has sold around 3,000 of these systems, which on average, dry approximately 150kg of produce every month. Additionally, Mr. Raheja operates as a middleman, purchasing dried produce and selling it to larger companies.

On the other end of the innovation spectrum is WayCool, an Indian agri-tech firm working with 200,000 farmers. They have invested in sophisticated systems that predict demand for agricultural products and manage a substantial daily flow of fresh produce. By employing data analysis and advanced distribution systems, WayCool aims to significantly reduce supply chain losses, ultimately striving for losses of under 2%.

In this landscape of high and low-tech solutions, there is still much work to be done to reach India’s more remote farmers. Sagar Lokhande, a farmer in Maharashtra state, faces challenges in preserving the quality and marketability of his produce. His desire to sell frozen vegetables with a longer shelf life highlights the need for technological solutions to address the specific challenges faced by different types of farming.

Marcella D’Souza, director of the WOTR Centre for Resilience Studies, recognizes the potential of technology in agriculture but emphasizes the need for a holistic approach. Alongside technology, factors like restoring natural ecosystems, traditional knowledge, financial support, and coordinated efforts are crucial for successful farming. These innovations offer hope for India’s farmers by reducing losses and boosting their income, thereby contributing to the sustainability of the agricultural sector.