On September 29, the world observes the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW), which will draw attention to a silent crisis that undermines both food and climate security. Globally, nearly one-third of all food produced is either lost or wasted.

As one of the world’s largest food producers, India is not immune to this challenge, facing substantial post-harvest losses across multiple sectors. A study in 2022 by NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS) — a subsidiary of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) — commissioned by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), showed that such losses remain alarmingly high throughout the agricultural spectrum.

The economic toll is staggering. Post-harvest losses are estimated to cost India ne

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