Mains Practice Questions

Introduction:

India paradoxically suffers from both food surplus and food insecurity. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries estimates annual post-harvest losses at ₹92,000 crore, with nearly 40% of fruits and vegetables wasted due to supply chain inefficiencies. In this context, the farm-to-fork supply chain—ensuring seamless connectivity from production to consumption—becomes crucial for addressing food wastage and strengthening food security.

Body :

Causes of Food Wastage in India

• Cold Chain Deficit:
  • Less than 10% of perishable produce in India benefits from temperature-controlled storage or transport — a critical gap leading to substantial spoilage.
  • Poor cold chain coverage particularly affects fruits, vegetables, dairy, and fish, resulting in rapid deterioration from harvest to market.
• Transport Bottlenecks:
  • FAO and NABCONS studies indicate annual post-harvest losses for major crops:
    • Fruits: up to 15% (guava worst affected), typical range 6–15%
    • Pulses: up to 6.74%
    • Cereals: up to 5.92%
  • Inadequate refrigerated transport and long-haul delays expose highly perishable items to spoilage during transit.
• Fragmented Supply Chains:
  • Multiple intermediaries and poor supply chain integration result in price markups, inefficiency, and wastage — household and retail food waste in India is estimated at 78 million tonnes per year.
  • Perishable commodities lose quality and value as delays mount across fragmented supply and distribution steps.
• Price Volatility and Distress Sales:
  • Perishables, notably tomatoes and onions, suffer from seasonal price swings and supply gluts.
  • Farmers are often forced into distress sales due to a lack of cold storage or affordable holding options.
• Market volatility means farmers may earn far below retail market price, discouraging investments in improved post-harvest management and further exacerbating losses.

Role of Farm-to-Fork Supply Chain in Minimising Wastage

• Efficient Logistics & Cold Chain – Investments in refrigerated vans, warehouses, and cold storage reduce spoilage. Example: Amul’s dairy cooperative network.
• Direct Farmer–Consumer Linkages – Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and e-NAM ensure better prices and reduce intermediaries.
• Digital Platforms – Agri-tech startups like Ninjacart connect farmers with retailers using AI-driven logistics, reducing transit losses.
• Food Processing & Value Addition – Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana and Mega Food Parks promote agro-processing to extend shelf life.
• Policy Initiatives – Reforms in APMC Acts, Operation Greens (“TOP to Total”) stabilising perishable crop prices.
• Contribution to Food Security :
  • Increased food availability by reducing wastage without expanding cultivation.
  • Nutritional security through better retention of perishables.
  • Enhanced farmer incomes via direct market access, reducing poverty-driven food insecurity.
  • Alignment with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption).

Challenges Ahead

• High capital costs of cold chain infrastructure.
• Small landholdings limiting farmers’ bargaining power.
• Policy contradictions between APMC regulations and direct marketing models.
• Digital divide restricting farmer access to e-platforms.

Conclusion :

A robust farm-to-fork supply chain is indispensable for bridging India’s paradox of hunger amidst abundance. Strengthening FPOs, scaling up cold chain infrastructure under the Agri Infra Fund (₹1 lakh crore), and adopting global best practices like Japan’s Just-in-Time delivery model or Israel’s agri-logistics innovations are critical. As Norman Borlaug aptly stated, “You can’t build a peaceful world on empty stomachs.” India must leverage supply chain reforms to secure both farmers’ livelihoods and citizens’ nutrition.