FARMERS´ USE OF POSTHARVEST INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN INDIA: PRESENT PROBLEMS AND FUTURE STRATEGIES

Abstract

India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. However, this is not matched with the availability of post-harvest infrastructure (PHI) leading to enormous losses valued at more than 30 billions of rupees annually. In order to promote and establish PHI, reduce post-harvest losses and facilitate domestic and overseas trade in horticultural products, the National Horticulture Board (NHB) had initiated the Soft Loan Schemes in 1993-94, providing soft loan up to rupees 10 millions with 4% service charge to various organizations to set up the PHI projects in many states of India. These newly created PHI facilities were expected to provide opportunities to farmers to increase their income. However, farmers encountered many problems in using these facilities. The study seeks to critically examine the extent of these problems faced by farmers and suggest measures for alleviation. The study is based on primary data collected from four major states of India covering 444 sample farmers comprising of 219 member farmers of PHI units and 225 non-member farmers from the same area. The study finds that farmers faced tremendous problems in using PHI facilities such as harvesting, pre-cooling, cold storage, grading, packing, transport, and marketing. It has critically examined the magnitude of problems faced by member and non-member farmers while using each of these facilities in their area. The resentment of problem was more among the non-member farmers. The study suggested strategies to overcome the problems and to enhance the development of PHI and its use by the farmers.