Post-Harvest Losses & Storage

Up to 15 per cent of fruit and nearly 12 per cent of vegetables are lost between harvest and sale

A study commissioned by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries from NABARD Consultancy Services (reference years 2020-22; 54 commodities across 292 districts) estimated harvest and post-harvest losses of 6.02–15.05 per cent for fruits, 4.87–11.61 per cent for vegetables, 3.89–5.92 per cent for cereals, 5.65–6.74 per cent for pulses, 2.87–7.51 per cent for oilseeds and 1.29–7.33 per cent for plantation crops and spices. It attributed losses in vegetables, cereals, plantation crops and fruits primarily to inefficient harvesting, handling, storage and transportation. Evidence confidence: High — a single large study, not yet repeated.