India’s Highest Post-Harvest Losses: Guava and Tomato Among the Worst Hit
13 August 2025, New Delhi: A study by NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. (NABCONS), commissioned by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), has revealed alarming post-harvest losses across 54 agricultural commodities in India. Conducted for the period 2020–22, the assessment covered every stage of the post-harvest chain — from harvesting and grading to packaging, transportation, storage, and retail.
The findings highlight that fruits and vegetables suffer some of the highest percentage losses, with guava and tomato standing out as major crops incurring substantial wastage.
Guava Tops the Chart in Fruit Losses
Among all fruits surveyed, guava recorded the highest post-harvest loss at 15.05% — 11.59% during farm operations and 3.46% at the market level. The high perishability of guava, coupled with inadequate cold storage and rapid ripening, makes it highly vulnerable to damage during handling and transportation.
Tomato Leads in Vegetable Losses
For vegetables, tomato losses stood at 11.62% — 8.37% at the farm stage and 3.25% during market handling. The fruit’s soft texture and short shelf life mean that even minor handling errors can lead to significant spoilage. Price volatility in tomato markets also contributes to wastage when harvesting is delayed or oversupply floods the mandis.
Table: Highest Post-Harvest Losses in Major Crops of India (2020–22)
| Category | Crop | Loss at Farm Stage (%) | Loss at Market Stage (%) | Total Loss (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruits | Guava | 11.59 | 3.46 | 15.05 |
| Mango | 6.03 | 2.50 | 8.53 | |
| Banana | 5.17 | 2.40 | 7.57 | |
| Vegetables | Tomato | 8.37 | 3.25 | 11.62 |
| Cabbage | 5.83 | 2.32 | 8.15 | |
| Onion | 5.31 | 1.96 | 7.27 | |
| Cereals | Paddy | 4.16 | 0.61 | 4.77 |
| Wheat | 3.61 | 0.56 | 4.17 | |
| Oilseeds | Soybean | 6.58 | 0.93 | 7.51 |
| Groundnut | 4.70 | 1.03 | 5.73 |
Source: NABCONS Study on Post-Harvest Losses of Agri Produce in India (Commissioned by MoFPI)
Overall Impact Across Categories
The NABCONS study estimates annual post-harvest losses at:
- Cereals: 12.49 million MT
- Fruits: 7.36 million MT
- Vegetables: 11.97 million MT
- Plantation crops (including sugarcane & spices): 30.59 million MT
These losses not only represent a major economic setback for farmers but also strain India’s food security and nutrition goals.
Government Measures to Reduce Wastage
To tackle these losses, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing the Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure Scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). The scheme supports setting up multiproduct food irradiation units and cold chain facilities to extend shelf life and reduce spoilage.
So far, 16 irradiation unit projects have been approved across the country, including facilities integrated within Mega Food Parks. One such irradiation plant has been established at the Avanti Mega Food Park in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh.
Experts believe that while infrastructure projects are critical, farmer-level training, adoption of low-cost storage solutions, and better market linkages are equally important to address the issue. Given the scale of wastage in guava and tomato, targeted interventions for these crops could deliver significant improvements in farm incomes and reduce pressure on India’s food supply chain.
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