What India Can Do to Mitigate Food Waste

Context

• The issue of food loss and waste (FLW) stands as a significant global concern, with serious implications for food security, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency.
• Recognizing the urgency of this issue, the United Nations has designated September 29 as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (FLW).
• It’s crucial to evaluate the extent of food loss and waste, its environmental repercussions, and the unique challenges and initiatives India faces in addressing these losses.

Global Impact of Food Loss and Waste

• A report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in 2023 indicates that food lost from harvest to retail constitutes 13.2% of global food production, while the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that 17% of food is wasted at the retail and consumption levels.
• Together, this results in nearly 30% of global food production being lost or wasted each year.
• If just half of this wasted food could be salvaged, it would suffice to feed all the hungry people worldwide, significantly aiding the global battle against hunger.
• Additionally, decreasing FLW would lead to a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• FLW is estimated to contribute 8-10% of global GHG emissions and accounts for 38% of the total energy consumption involved in food production.

An Assessment of Food Loss Causes in India

• Lack of Mechanisation
  • The All-India Debt and Investment Survey (AIDIS) of 2019 revealed that only 4.4% of Indian cultivator households own tractors, while just 5.3% have access to essential farming tools like power tillers, combine harvesters, or threshers.
  • Small and marginal farmers, who constitute over 86% of India’s agricultural households, often find these machines financially inaccessible.
  • Consequently, manual farming methods prevail, increasing the likelihood of food loss during harvesting and processing.
  • For example, using combine harvesters in paddy cultivation dramatically reduces grain losses compared to traditional harvesting techniques, but such machinery is primarily utilized in regions like Punjab, where 97% of paddy-growing households have mechanized equipment.
  • Conversely, only 10% of paddy farmers in Bihar can access this equipment.
• Inadequate Cold Chain Infrastructure
  • India’s cold chain facilities are insufficient, especially for perishable items such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
  • The absence of adequate refrigeration and temperature-controlled transportation leads to significant losses of horticultural crops before they reach the market.
  • This lack of efficient cold chain infrastructure results in spoilage and waste, diminishing the availability of fresh produce and potential earnings for farmers.
  • A survey indicates that horticultural crops are particularly vulnerable, with approximately 50 million metric tons (MMT) lost annually due to this shortfall.
• Traditional Drying and Storage Methods
  • While sun drying is a cost-effective option, it exposes food to contamination from dust, pests, and inconsistent moisture levels, resulting in quality deterioration and food loss.
  • Moreover, inadequate storage facilities compound post-harvest losses, with 10% of total food grain production lost due to insufficient storage infrastructure.
  • Without access to modern drying technologies, such as solar dryers, or proper storage facilities like warehouses and silos, farmers struggle to maintain their produce, particularly during the monsoon season.
• Transportation and Supply Chain Inefficiencies
  • India’s extensive geography, along with poor road infrastructure in rural areas, leads to lengthy transportation times for crops from farms to markets.
  • During these delays, perishable items are especially susceptible to spoilage due to heat, moisture, and damage during handling.
  • Even non-perishable goods like grains can suffer from poor handling and inadequate packaging during transit, resulting in further losses.

Impact of Food Loss in India

• Economic Consequences
  • The financial toll of food loss in India is staggering, with approximately Rs 1.53 trillion worth of food wasted annually.
  • This represents lost income for farmers, particularly small and marginal ones who are unable to absorb such losses.
  • Food loss also adversely affects the nation’s GDP, given that agriculture contributes significantly to India’s economy.
  • Moreover, the produce that is lost could have been sold domestically or exported, depriving both farmers and the government of potential revenue.
• Environmental Impact
  • Agriculture is resource-intensive, requiring substantial water, energy, and land; thus, when food is lost or wasted, all the resources invested in its production are squandered as well.
  • This concern is particularly acute in India, which faces ongoing challenges with water scarcity and land degradation.
  • Additionally, discarded food often ends up in landfills, where it decomposes and generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
  • Mitigating food loss would conserve resources and reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, aiding in the fight against climate change.
• Social and Food Security Implications
  • The Global Hunger Index reveals India’s poor standing regarding hunger and malnutrition, with millions lacking access to sufficient nutritious food.
  • The vast amount of food lost annually amid widespread hunger starkly illustrates systemic inefficiencies.
  • If even a fraction of the food lost after harvest could be salvaged, it would significantly enhance food security in the country and alleviate malnutrition, especially in rural areas.

Solutions to Address the Food Loss Issue in India

• Mechanization and Technological Interventions
  • Increasing the use of mechanized farming tools, especially among small and marginal farmers, is vital for decreasing post-harvest losses.
  • Initiatives like Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) can facilitate access to machinery through shared leasing arrangements.
  • Moreover, investing in sustainable technologies like solar dryers and modern storage facilities can further mitigate losses, particularly for perishable items.
• Improving Cold Chain Infrastructure
  • Developing a robust cold chain infrastructure is essential to minimize spoilage of perishable goods.
  • Government initiatives that promote private investment in cold chains and public-private partnerships can help address this infrastructure gap.
  • Expanding cold storage facilities and enhancing refrigerated transportation would enable farmers to prolong the shelf life of their produce and access broader markets, thus reducing food loss.
• Policy Reforms
  • Policy measures are required to ensure that small and marginal farmers can leverage technological advancements and infrastructure enhancements.
  • For example, reconsidering the Jute Packaging Material Act (JPMA) to permit airtight bags instead of jute bags could significantly diminish storage and transit losses.
  • Likewise, government programs that provide subsidies for modern storage facilities, cold chains, and mechanized equipment would aid farmers in lessening food loss.
• Education and Awareness Campaigns
  • Educating farmers on best practices for harvesting, drying, and storing is crucial to minimizing losses.
  • Training programs that focus on using modern technologies, like 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, particularly in urban settings where waste from weddings and events is prevalent, could help curb food wastage.

Conclusion

• India’s issue with food loss and waste presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
• Reducing food loss is not only an economic imperative but also a moral obligation, particularly in a nation where millions continue to experience hunger and malnutrition.
• By prioritizing effective solutions, India can play a significant role in global efforts to combat food loss and waste while promoting a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system.

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