Lack of Storage and Cold Chain Infrastructure at the Local Level

Problem Statement

Insufficient access to pre-cooling, cold storage, and modern ambient storage facilities at the village/local body level results in rapid perishability, distress sales immediately after harvest, and significant post-harvest losses, especially for high-value produce.

Innovation Opportunities

• Modular and Energy-Efficient Cold Storage: Design and deployment of low-cost, off-grid, solar-powered modular cold storage units (e.g., 2-5 MT capacity) suitable for cluster-level installation.
• IoT-enabled Ambient Storage and Warehousing Solutions: Smart monitoring systems for non-refrigerated storage (e.g., for spices, grains) to track temperature, humidity, and pest infestation remotely.
• Local Body-Level Cold Chain Network Coordination: Digital platforms to manage booking, tracking, and utilisation of available cold storage and pre-cooling facilities by multiple farmers in a local area.

Use Case Example

A vegetable farmer uses a mobile app to book a 50 kg slot in the nearest community solar cold storage facility for their harvested tomatoes, extending the shelf life by 10 days until a better market price is available.