India faces a staggering annual loss of Rs 1.5 lakh crore in post-harvest food grain wastage, exacerbated by inadequate storage infrastructure. As the world’s third-largest producer of food grains, India loses up to 10% of its total production post-harvest, with small farmers bearing the brunt of this systemic challenge.
A digital revolution is underway in agriculture, with AI-powered solutions such as Agri Reach offering a game-changing approach to reducing food loss and improving post-harvest logistics. Farmers like Amrender Singh from Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar region embody the struggles of India’s agrarian community. Despite years of improving his farming practices and achieving bountiful harvests, Singh’s real challenge begins after the crops are harvested. Without access to nearby storage or efficient logistical solutions, Singh faces the exhausting task of transporting his 100 tonnes of wheat over long distances for quality checks and better prices at local mandis. The entire process incurs hefty costs, forcing him to sell his produce at suboptimal prices, missing out on market opportunities.
Singh’s plight mirrors that of millions of small farmers across India, where inadequate storage facilities result in massive food waste. Government data reveals that India produces over 300 million tonnes of food grain annually, but with a storage capacity of only 145 million tonnes, over half of the produce faces the risk of spoilage. A recent report by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) estimates that India lost 10% of its total food grain production in the 2023-24 cycle, while 30% of fruits and vegetables go to waste before reaching the market.
The situation becomes even more dire when considering the socio-economic implications of such wastage. India ranks poorly in the Global Hunger Index, and with 14% of its population undernourished, the country can ill-afford to waste food that could otherwise feed millions. Agricultural economist Ashok Gulati points out that poor post-harvest storage and the lack of cold chain infrastructure contribute significantly to the annual losses, which have been estimated at a staggering Rs 1.53 lakh crore. In the face of these challenges, Sohan Lal Commodity Management Limited (SLCM) has introduced its Agri Reach platform, a digital solution that aims to tackle India’s post-harvest woes by providing efficient and accessible storage management. Agri Reach is a warehouse management system that leverages AI and machine learning to help farmers like Singh overcome logistical hurdles and reduce food wastage.
The platform allows farmers to upload a simple photo of their harvested crops, instantly receiving a quality report from a NABL-accredited lab. With real-time data analysis, Singh can now assess the quality of his wheat without the need for costly travel or waiting for days to receive test results. This innovative solution not only saves time but also reduces operating costs by 25%, empowering farmers to make better selling decisions. As Singh points out, Agri Reach has allowed him to avoid exploitation by traders and secure fair prices for his crops, helping him stay financially viable. Launched in 2022, Agri Reach is a user-friendly, AI-powered digital platform designed to streamline the post-harvest process. It enables farmers to instantly perform quality checks on crops, with the system analysing parameters like size, colour, and damage to deliver a comprehensive report. The platform’s machine learning model is continuously updated with new data, enhancing its ability to provide accurate assessments, regardless of the location or crop type.
SLCM’s commitment to revolutionising the agricultural sector extends beyond technology. The company has made substantial investments in rural India, supporting farmers through its Krishi Quality Janch Kendra centres and providing financial inclusion through its NBFC arm, Kissandhan. These initiatives aim to empower women farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and other marginalised groups by improving access to technology and financial resources. The success of Agri Reach is evident in its widespread adoption. The platform is currently being used by over 10 million farmers across India, with impressive results. Rajan Gupta, CFO of Goel International Pvt Ltd, highlights how the platform’s integration of real-time data has helped his company reduce grain losses by 18%, improving the efficiency of their entire supply chain and maximising profitability.
SLCM’s innovations have also been recognised globally. In addition to its patents for real-time data management and monitoring of warehouse quality control, the company’s expansion into Myanmar signals its growing influence in the agri-logistics space. With over 17,000 warehouses across India and a network that manages assets worth Rs 12,000 crore daily, SLCM is well-positioned to further disrupt the agricultural supply chain and reduce the nation’s food loss crisis. The company’s remarkable growth since its inception in 2009 underscores the potential of digital technologies to transform India’s agriculture sector. With Agri Reach, SLCM is not only addressing the immediate needs of farmers but also contributing to long-term sustainability by reducing food waste and promoting economic growth in rural India
Revolutionizing Post-Harvest Management in India
