Study on Post-Harvest Losses of Agricultural Produce in India
By khetivyapar
Posted: 28 Jul, 2025 12:00 AM IST Updated Mon, 28 Jul 2025 09:29 AM IST
India is taking serious and structured steps. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) conducted a comprehensive study in 2022 titled “Study on Post-Harvest Losses of Agricultural Produce in India”. This study, carried out by NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. (NABCONS), analyzed data from 2020 to 2022 and covered 54 major agricultural commodities across 292 districts in 15 agro-climatic zones of the country.
Assessment of Post-Harvest Losses (in percentage):
| Commodity |
Loss (%) |
| Cereals |
3.89 – 5.92 |
| Pulses |
5.65 – 6.74 |
| Oilseeds |
2.87 – 7.51 |
| Fruits |
6.02 – 15.05 |
| Vegetables |
4.87 – 11.61 |
| Spices & Horticulture |
1.29 – 7.33 |
| Milk |
0.87 |
| Inland Fisheries |
4.86 |
| Marine Fisheries |
8.76 |
| Meat |
2.34 |
| Poultry |
5.63 |
| Eggs |
6.03 |
The highest levels of losses were reported in fruits, vegetables, and marine fisheries. According to the study, inefficiencies in harvesting, storage, transportation, and handling are the major contributors to these losses.
Key Government Schemes Addressing Post-Harvest Losses:
To reduce such losses and strengthen the agri-value chain, the government has launched several integrated and focused schemes:
- Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): Supports the development of post-harvest infrastructure such as cold storages, ripening chambers, and pack houses for fruits and vegetables.
- Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF): Provides medium to long-term financial support for building post-harvest storage, cold chain infrastructure, and primary processing units.
- Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) Scheme: Aims to strengthen storage and marketing infrastructure at the market level to reduce supply chain losses.
- National Agriculture Market (e-NAM): Enhances farmers’ access to better markets and ensures price transparency, thus reducing product wastage.
- 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs): Empowers small farmers through collective processing, storage, and market linkage efforts.
- Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY): Implemented by MoFPI, this scheme promotes development of post-harvest and processing infrastructure to minimize wastage and improve value addition.
Read More- How Is the Government Reducing Losses After Harvest? Know These 6 Major Schemes
