New Delhi, June 16 -- India, a leading producer of fruits and vegetables, loses Rs 152,700 crore annually due to post-harvest losses, with fresh produce accounting for 37 per cent of the total losses. Preventing post-harvest losses can improve farmers' income levels, improve access to nutritious food and create more livelihood opportunities while minimising the environmental impact from food loss.

Post-harvest losses occur across the supply chain, from harvesting and processing at the farm level to the distribution stage. As key gatekeepers between production and consumption, retailers can play a crucial role in reducing food loss and food waste, especially for the highly perishable fresh produce.

Understanding the retail sector India i...