Food loss between harvest and retail continues to be a silent drain on global agriculture, particularly in developing economies where hunger and undernourishment remain unresolved. As per  nearly 14% of all food produced globally is lost before it even reaches retail shelves. This amounts to nearly 44% of the 1.3 billion tonnes of global food loss in developing countries. Beyond the immediate concern of hunger, such loss reflects inefficiencies that ripple through the food supply chain, weakening farmer incomes, increasing consumer prices, and contributing to 3.3 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (GoI 2018).
One of the most important factors driving loss is the lag in logistics, particularly cold chain infrastructure, that can deal with the complexity of perishable goods movement. In India, the losses are particularly severe in horticulture. Vegetables like potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and cabbages record extensive post-harvest losses in states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. For instance, UP alone accounts for 57 lakh tonnes of lost potatoes, while Maharashtra loses 36.3 lakh tonnes of onions
Based on the above, we can see structural issues in how perishables are stored, transported, and accessed by markets. Without reliable temperature control and timely connectivity to consumption centres or export hubs, produce deteriorates before it finds a buyer. This creates direct economic losses and indirect inflationary pressures across the supply chain. Farmers receive low prices for compromised produce, while consumers in urban centres pay higher prices due to restricted availability.
Logistics, when built with the right intent and technology, acts as a value amplifier. It allows produce to reach markets far beyond local mandis, opens new international opportunities, and offers growers a way to diversify into high-value crops. According to Chand (2017) and Dev (2019), improvements in cold chain and logistics can directly enhance farmer incomes by enabling access to geographically distant and lucrative markets, thereby insulating them from local market saturation.
India, despite being one of the world’s largest producers of fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood, contributes merely 2% to global perishable exports. This gap stems not from production but from the lack of effective cold logistics for sea freight. Small and mid-sized exporters often find it difficult to access reefer containers or navigate the documentation and scheduling hurdles. As a result, the spoilage rate increases, and their chances of scaling up diminish.
Another layer of loss comes from the timing mismatch—seasonal harvests flood the market temporarily, pushing prices down, while later months face supply shortages. A robust cold chain addresses this by extending shelf life and allowing produce to be stored and distributed over time, thereby reducing volatility and stabilising prices.
Losses in fruit crops present a parallel concern. Mangoes, citrus fruits, grapes, and apples show significant wastage, with UP (21 lakh tonnes) and AP (20 lakh tonnes) leading in mango losses alone. Similarly, MP and Maharashtra record high wastage in citrus and grapes, respectively (Chintada et al. 2017). These volumes are not just numbers but missed opportunities in a global market that increasingly demands high-quality, fresh produce year-round.
Reducing such losses is no longer about storage alone. Integrated digital platforms now enable real-time visibility into container conditions. They allow exporters to track temperature fluctuations and take corrective action before spoilage occurs. Predictive analytics can help plan shipment routes that minimise delays and optimise arrival time based on shelf-life projections. Such solutions reduce human dependency on guesswork and improve reliability.
For small exporters, who may lack the infrastructure or knowledge to deal with international shipment protocols, end-to-end digital support can bridge the accessibility gap. These platforms allow users to discover available containers, book space in real-time, and track their cargo with full compliance transparency. The speed of execution—from hours to minutes—translates into better planning and quicker access to the market.
The benefit chain of such efficiencies is wide-reaching. Consumers get access to fresh, affordable produce. Processors can maintain a steady supply of inputs. Farmers can invest in quality improvement, assured that their products will survive the journey to distant buyers. Moreover, the catalysed growth in food processing and packaging creates downstream employment and strengthens rural economies.
Yet, while digital logistics solutions are making inroads, adoption remains low in many farming regions. Awareness, affordability, and education must be improved through public-private efforts. Incentives to adopt reefer technology, coupled with capacity-building in logistics planning, could bring more producers into the fold.
Reducing food loss plays an important role in improving food security, protecting the environment, and supporting fair incomes across the agricultural value chain. In India, where a large section of the population depends on farming, even modest improvements in storage and logistics can deliver significant results. The goal is to enable farmers to reach global markets with consistency, maintain the quality of their produce, and build more predictable and rewarding supply chains.
The agricultural sector needs reliable systems that work consistently. With food loss resulting in measurable cost, logistics must become a strategic lever of progress.
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