Tomato Trail: Tracking Food Loss and Food Waste in Madhya Pradesh

This working paper presents insights on food loss and food waste (FLFW) in the tomato supply chain in Madhya Pradesh. The latest estimates from a study undertaken by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) indicate that fruits and vegetables incur highest postharvest losses in India. Tomato incurs the second highest postharvest losses (11.61 percent), after Guava (15 percent) (NABCONS 2022). Tomatoes are also one of the important crops in the country due to their high nutritional, economic value to farmers and consumers, and their role in the local cuisines. This study has assessed FLFW across the tomato supply chain, identifying the critical loss points, key causes and drivers, role of gender and social inclusion, and potential solutions for reducing FLFW. It also looked at the role of energy and energy access in reducing FLFW.

The working paper identifies farm and retail level as the critical loss points in the tomato supply chain. Reducing these losses offers a triple-win: economic gains for farmers, support in food and nutrition security, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pressure on land and water resources. It recommends adopting a food systems approach to tackle FLFW in the tomato supply chain, that is, taking an approach that looks at the entirety of food production, primary and secondary processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal to understand the complex interconnections and impacts within the system.

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