Study pushes for post-harvest management

Assocham says 25 mn tonnes annual grain wastage could then stop, promoting farmer incomes, export and lower food prices

A focus on post-harvest management would save the country 25 million tonnes of foodgrain from spoilage yearly, about a tenth of the yearly output, says a study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

Lack of farmers’ education, coupled with poor infrastructure and handling for transportation, result in wastage and pilferage. All this reduces farmers’ income and unnecessarily raises the price of grain.

The loss assumes significance as the quantity constitutes around 10 per cent of India’s overall annual foodgrains production.

“Farmers (need to be) educated on handling post-harvest cleaning, grading and switching to standardised packaging of produce, as per the domestic and export market requirement,” says the study.

India, it says, can also tap a great potential for exporting 20 mt of rice, wheat, maize and other cereals without disturbing the domestic equilibrium.

“If farmers carry out post-harvest grain management activities thoroughly, it would help avoid significant spillage and wastage at various points from farm to market yard, as the entire produce need not be displayed in bulk and buyers can be allowed to draw samples,” said D S Rawat, secretary-general of Assocham.
 

The current practice is to harvest the grain and bring it to the market yards to sell through auction; price determination through visual inspection is common. The grains are graded after cleaning by traders and other middlemen in the market yard; this means a lower price for the farmer, as he sells his produce without cleaning and grading

“There is a need to educate farmers about traders’ needs in terms of quality, grades and application of permissible preservatives for a longer shelf life. Besides, farmers must be informed that higher grades would fetch them a better price...the government should also encourage system of farmer-graded grain in procurement, in synchrony with trade and export needs. The present system of large rice and wheat procurements in bulk by government in various states is disincentivising for farmers to invest their time in cleaning and grading, as the premium on better quality and grade is not commensurate with returns...a saving on wastage and better shelf life would benefit both sellers and buyers,” said Rawat.

The study says the government should encourage private participation in the grain trade, with a pro-active export policy, given the severe storage and maintenance problems, together with mounting subsidy on wheat and rice procurement.

Assocham also suggests post-harvest infrastructure development is a pre-requisite for value addition in agri-export. Different agricultural products have particular requirements on preservation and maintaining of quality, controlling of moisture levels, longer shelf life and storage, handling and transportation.

A switching to contract farming is another good option for farmers, as they gain technical and credit support, beside lifting of produce at the farm gate, it said.