Why in the News? 

India holds the position of the second-largest agricultural producer globally however, it only accounts for 2.4% of global agricultural exports, ranking eighth worldwide due to the post-harvest loss.

A closer look at India’s post-harvest loss:

• Economic Impact: India faces annual post-harvest losses amounting to approximately ₹1,52,790 crore, significantly impacting farmer incomes and the agricultural economy.
• Perishable Commodities: The biggest losses occur in perishable commodities like livestock produce (22%), fruits (19%), and vegetables (18%). Export processes further add to these losses, particularly at the import-country stage.
• Supply Chain Inefficiencies: There is Inefficiencies in storage, transportation, and marketing, alongside a lack of assured market connectivity, contribute to significant post-harvest losses. Small and marginal farmers, who make up 86% of the farming community, struggle with economies of scale and market access.

Initiatives taken by the Railways Department:

• Truck-on-Train Service: Indian Railways introduced the truck-on-train service, allowing loaded trucks to be transported on railway wagons. This service has been expanded following successful trials with commodities like milk and cattle feed.
• Parcel Special Trains: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Railways introduced parcel special trains to transport perishables and seeds between producers and markets, ensuring timely delivery and reducing post-harvest losses.
  • The DFI (Doubling farmers’ income) committee recommends streamlining loading and unloading processes to minimize transit times and address staffing shortages through recruitment and training initiatives.
• Kisan Rail Scheme: It was launched to connect production surplus regions with consumption regions. This scheme facilitates the transportation of perishables (including milk, meat, and fish) more efficiently.
• Specialized Wagons and Facilities: Investment in specialized wagons for temperature-controlled transport and establishing rail-side facilities for safe cargo handling are essential steps taken by the Railways.

Way for Untapped Opportunities:

• Enhanced Environmental Benefits: Rail transport generates up to 80% less carbon dioxide for freight traffic compared to road transport.
• Public-Private Partnerships: The private sector can play a crucial role in enhancing operational efficiency and strengthening rail infrastructure through public-private partnerships, thereby improving the overall logistics ecosystem for agricultural produce.
• Budgetary Support and Infrastructure Development: The budgetary allocation for agriculture in 2024 aims to bridge the farm-to-market gap with modern infrastructure and value-addition support.
• Technology Integration: Incorporating advanced technologies like real-time tracking, temperature monitoring, and automated loading/unloading systems.

Way forward: 

• Expand climate-controlled storage facilities and cold storage capacity to accommodate a larger share of agricultural produce.
• Provide small and marginal farmers access to storage facilities through cooperatives or subsidies.
• Invest in specialized rail wagons for temperature-controlled transport and establish rail-side cargo handling facilities.

Mains PYQ: 

Q How do subsidies affect the cropping pattern, crop diversity and economy of farmers? What is the significance of crop insurance, minimum support price and food processing for small and marginal farmers? (UPSC IAS/2017)

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