Farm-to-freezer: How future of Indian farming may lie in frozen
Industry experts believe that India, which is traditionally dependent on fresh supply, will be increasingly relying on frozen foods to balance the farmer’s income and meet consumer expectations.
Difficulty
India was wasting about one -third of farm production every year due to insufficient logistics and storage facilities. Vegetables and fruits usually rot before reaching the markets, farmers encounter losses and consumers.
Kanav Agarwal, the founding partner of Frostar Foods, a Frozen Food Company -based Frozen Food Company, said, “The absence of ability has been the greatest obstacle to associating farmers directly with urban markets.” “Frozen processing gives us the ability to prolong the shelf life without losing the diet of the product.”
Increased demand in cities
Frozen foods are still a small share of India’s retail market, but sales are rapidly increasing. Working households in the subway cities buy more and more frozen peas, corn and mixed vegetables to provide convenience. COVİD-19 PANDEM accelerated this change, consumers are more open to stocking frozen goods at home.
“Frozen’s perception that means less fresh is changing. Today’s cold -chain technology allows us to lock freshness at the farm door, Rar
A win for farmers
For farmers, the frozen supply chain offers a way of selling crops to be thrown due to seasonal gluties. They obtain predictable demands and safe prices by contracting with processors.
Frostar Foods’ Raghav Bansal said, “In the brand new season, prices collapse and farmers are forced to sell under the cost. Frozen processing helps to balance the market by storing this excess in the following months.”
Infrastructure and investment
India’s cold chain capacity has increased, but most of them are still intensifying in big city centers. In order to expand the frozen market, rural storage units need to invest in cooling transportation and processing facilities near the farms. The government support for food processing is assisted by the production -related incentive (PLI) plan, but industry players say more needed.
Experts argue that if the infrastructure develops and awareness spreads beyond big cities, India’s frozen food industry may grow in annual double digits. For farmers, it can mean reduced waste and better income. For consumers, it means access to affordable products throughout the year.
Kanav Agarwal said, “The future of Indian farming will be not only with what we raise, but also with how we protect it,” he said. “Frozen is no longer a luxury product for export, but it becomes a practical solution for India’s own food safety.”
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