The policy brief highlights the triple win of reducing PHL: 

• benefiting farmers (enhanced income), 
• enhancing food security, and 
• ensuring sustainability (less resource exploitation) in agri-food systems.

Key highlights 

• Production in India
  • Food Grain: Increased from 74.23 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 1966-67 to 330.5 MMT in 2022-23. 
  • Horticulture: Increased from 96.6 MMT in 1991-92 to 355.25 MMT in 2022-23. 
• India’s Storage capacity: Expanded from 108.8 MMT in 2010 to 219.4 MMT in 2021 
• PHL: Globally, around 30% of food produced never reaches consumers (FAO, 2021).
  • India faces higher PHL in cereals, pulses, and oilseeds than global levels.
  • Annual loss of US $18.5 billion from 2020 to 2022, despite some reduction in PHL from 2012 to 2022. 

Key factors behind PHL in India 

• On-Farm Operations: Low farmer education and skill levels, weather conditions, and the use of defective machinery. 
• Marketing Channels: En-route leakages from open lorry transport, poor quality packaging, use of iron hooks, improper storage practices, etc.
• Policy Issues:  Jute Packing Material Act (1987) mandates using jute bags, which are susceptible to pests, insects, and contamination.

Way forward

• Mechanization in agriculture, 
• reforming the Public Distribution System (PDS) and boosting direct cash transfer, etc.