Post-harvest losses in India amount to nearly ₹61,000 crore, with mango farmers often forced into distress sales after heavy storms leave their produce rotting on the ground.
One solution to this ongoing issue is the implementation of cold storage facilities. However, in India, there is a lack of interest in traditional cold storage units, resulting in low returns for the owners.
To combat this problem, Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has introduced a new concept – solar-powered micro cold storage units that can be easily transported on trucks to various locations. These units are designed to briefly store 5 tonnes of horticultural produce and operate with the help of ‘phase changing chemicals’ that provide night-time cooling.
The first three pilot units, out of the proposed 6, are set to be inaugurated soon. EESL plans to have over 3,000 such units across the country to significantly reduce post-harvest agricultural losses. Cooling services are offered to farmer producer organizations, with a ‘per kg per day’ fee structure in place.
Funded by a $120 million grant from ADB, the EESL pilot aims to establish commercially viable pricing models for the micro cold storage units. The goal is to make these units self-sustainable, with the pilot units currently subsidized by the grant.
Overall, the introduction of these portable, solar-powered cold storage units has the potential to revolutionize the way farmers store their produce and minimize post-harvest losses in India.
