Context

• The issue of food loss and waste (FLW) is a critical global challenge that has profound implications for food security, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency.
• Recognising the urgency of the matter, the United Nations designated September 29 as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (FLW).
• It is important to have an assessment on the scale of food loss and waste, its environmental impact, and India’s specific challenges and efforts to mitigate these losses.

Global Impact of Food Loss and Waste

• According to a 2023 Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report, food lost between harvest and retail accounts for 13.2% of global food production, while UNEP estimates that 17% of food is wasted at the retail and consumption stages.
• Combined, this amounts to nearly 30% of global food production being lost or wasted each year.
• If just half of this food could be saved, it would be sufficient to feed all the world’s hungry people, thus contributing to the global fight against hunger.
• Furthermore, reducing FLW would lead to a significant decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG)
• It is estimated that FLW contributes to 8-10% of global GHG emissions and accounts for 38% of total energy usage in food production.

An Assessment on Causes of Food Loss in India

• Lack of Mechanisation
  • The All-India Debt and Investment Survey (AIDIS) in 2019 revealed that only 4.4% of cultivator households in India owned tractors, and only 5.3% owned essential farm equipment such as power tillers, combine harvesters, or threshers.
  • Small and marginal farmers, who make up over 86% of India’s agricultural households, often cannot afford these machines.
  • As a result, manual methods are still widely used, which increases the risk of food loss during harvesting and processing.
  • For instance, combine harvesters, when used in paddy cultivation, significantly reduce grain losses compared to traditional methods, but their use is limited to regions like Punjab, where 97% of paddy-producing households use mechanized equipment.
  • In contrast, only 10% of paddy farmers in Bihar have access to such equipment.
• Inadequate Cold Chain Infrastructure
  • India’s cold chain infrastructure is underdeveloped, particularly for perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
  • Due to the lack of proper refrigeration and temperature-controlled transport, a large proportion of horticultural crops are lost before they even reach the market.
  • The absence of efficient cold chains results in spoilage and wastage, reducing both the availability of fresh produce and the potential income for farmers.
  • According to a survey, horticultural crops are especially vulnerable, with nearly 50 MMT lost annually due to this deficiency.
• Traditional Drying and Storage Methods
  • While sun drying is a low-cost option, it exposes food to contamination from dust, pests, and uneven moisture levels, leading to quality degradation and food loss.
  • Furthermore, inadequate storage facilities exacerbate post-harvest losses, with 10% of total food grain production is lost due to poor and inadequate storage infrastructure.
  • Without access to modern drying technologies such as solar dryers or proper storage infrastructure like warehouses and silos, farmers face significant challenges in preserving their produce, especially during the monsoon season.
• Transportation and Supply Chain Inefficiencies
  • India’s vast geography, coupled with poor road infrastructure in rural areas, means that transporting crops from farms to markets can take considerable time.
  • During this period, perishable goods are particularly prone to spoilage due to exposure to heat, moisture, and handling damage.
  • Even non-perishable items such as grains can suffer from poor handling and packaging during transit, leading to further losses.

Impact of Food Loss in India

• Economic Consequences
  • The monetary value of food loss in India is alarming, with Rs 1.53 trillion worth of food wasted annually.
  • This translates into lost income for farmers, especially small and marginal farmers who cannot absorb these losses.
  • Food loss also affects the country’s GDP, as agriculture accounts for a significant portion of India’s economy.
  • Additionally, the lost produce could have been sold domestically or exported, reducing potential revenue streams for both the government and farmers.
• Environmental Impact
  • Agriculture is a resource-intensive sector, requiring large amounts of water, energy, and land, therefore, when food is lost or wasted, all the resources that went into producing it are wasted as well.
  • In India, this is particularly concerning given the country’s ongoing struggles with water scarcity and land degradation.
  • Furthermore, food that is discarded often ends up in landfills, where it decomposes and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
  • Reducing food loss would not only conserve resources but also lower the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the fight against climate change.
• Social and Food Security Implications
  • According to the Global Hunger Index, India ranks poorly in terms of hunger and malnutrition, with millions of people unable to access sufficient nutritious food.
  • The fact that such a large quantity of food is lost each year while millions go hungry is a stark indicator of systemic inefficiencies.
  • If even a portion of the food lost post-harvest could be saved, it would significantly improve food security in the country and reduce the incidence of malnutrition, particularly in rural areas.

Solutions to Address the Food Loss Problem in India

• Mechanization and Technological Interventions
  • Expanding the use of mechanised farming equipment, particularly among small and marginal farmers, is essential for reducing post-harvest losses.
  • Initiatives such as Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) can help farmers access machinery through group leasing or shared services.
  • Additionally, investing in green technologies like solar dryers and modern storage facilities can further reduce losses, particularly for perishable goods.
• Improving Cold Chain Infrastructure
  • Building a robust cold chain infrastructure is crucial for reducing the spoilage of perishable products.
  • Government initiatives to encourage private investment in cold chains, as well as public-private partnerships, can help bridge the infrastructure gap.
  • Expanding cold storage facilities and improving refrigerated transportation would enable farmers to extend the shelf life of their produce and reach wider markets, thereby reducing food loss.
• Policy Reforms
  • Policy interventions are necessary to ensure that small and marginal farmers can benefit from technological advancements and infrastructure improvements.
  • For instance, revisiting the Jute Packaging Material Act (JPMA) to allow for the use of airtight bags in place of jute bags could significantly reduce storage and transit losses.
  • Similarly, government programs that offer subsidies for modern storage facilities, cold chains, and mechanised equipment would support farmers in reducing food loss.
• Education and Awareness Campaigns
  • Educating farmers about best practices in harvesting, drying, and storage is crucial for minimising losses.
  • Training programs on the use of modern technologies, such as combine harvesters and solar dryers, can empower farmers to adopt more efficient methods.
  • Additionally, raising awareness among consumers about food waste at the household level, especially in urban areas where waste from weddings and events is high, could help reduce food wastage.

Conclusion

• India’s food loss and waste problem presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
• Reducing food loss is not merely an economic necessity but a moral obligation, especially in a country where millions still suffer from hunger and malnutrition.
• By prioritising solutions, India can contribute to global efforts to tackle food loss and waste while fostering a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system.