GS3 · 15 marks · 250 words

India's post-harvest losses amount to approximately ₹1,52,790 crore annually. To what extent can post-harvest losses in India be attributed to the constraints in the transport and marketing of agricultural products?

Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

Agricultural MarketingInfrastructureFood ProcessingCrops and Cropping Patterns

Syllabus: Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, - different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.

How toppers approached it

From 5 of the 6 answers · about 240 words · 40% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A definition40%
  • No separate opening40%
  • A figure20%

Body

  • Points100%

Close

  • A way forward80%
  • A summary20%

The toppers’ answers

Raghav JhunjhunwalaAIR 4 · CSE 2025 · 154 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a figure

India's post harvest losses are its Achilles heel to its Agri prosperity (& DFI) as per Dalwai committee.

Body · points

ROLE of transport deficit:

  1. Disproportionate Impact on Perishable items

  2. unsanitary conditions of transport: consignment Rejection.

  3. lack of All weather & metalled Rural roads

  4. lack of farm gate procurement.

Role of marketing deficit

  1. Dalwai committee: farmers receive only 15-40% of all payment by Retail customer.

  2. limited opportunities for farmers beyond APMC

Diagram
* APMC level issues * 1 -> corruption * 2 -> Poorly trained Arhatiyas (middlemen) * 3 -> too much state taxations fees

(4) Poor farmer awareness w.r.t e-NAM or other platforms.

Other factors at play

(1) Frequent Export Bans and MEP imposition (Minimum Export Price) — Ashok Gulati

(2) Poor agreements & challenges of non tariff barriers to Exports (Ex: Sanitary & Phyto sanitary)

(3) Poor storage infra, esp. cold storage godowns.

(4) Limited pvt sector investment and startups.

(5) Climate change impacts

Recent Interventions:

Diagram
- Transport - (1) Krishi Udan - (2) Krishi Rail - Marketing - (1) KISAN Dehaat (DigiTech) - (2) E-NAM (connects APMC) - (3) Corporate farming (Ex: MY Fun ventures)

Way Forward

Diagram
- Swaminathan comm. (NCF) - (1) Engage MNREGA to build common storage - (2) Incentivize pvt. sector investment - (3) Focus on perishable and high value crops (Ex: Floriculture) - (4) Improve on pest infection resistance

Close · a way forward

Thus, along with above challenges we must need to be ready with climate change threats.

More on Agricultural Marketing

Storage, transport and sale of produce: APMC and mandis, eNAM, contract farming, post-harvest loss, price realisation.

All GS3 questions on Agricultural Marketing