New Delhi
The Indian government has funded 28 innovative ideas aimed at improving the tomato supply chain and processing levels, Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare on Friday said These ideas were selected through the Tomato Grand Challenge (TGC) hackathon, launched in June last year by the Department of Consumer Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell.
Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare highlighted that tomato prices are highly volatile due to factors like excessive rains, heat waves, and pest attacks. These conditions lead to sudden price hikes, sometimes up to 100%, and also cause prices to fall drastically, affecting farmers’ income. She emphasized the need to strengthen the supply chain, reduce both pre- and post-harvest losses, and boost processing capabilities to stabilize prices and benefit both consumers and farmers.
India produces around 20 million tonnes of tomatoes annually, with the southern and western regions contributing nearly 60% of the total production. However, price fluctuations are more pronounced during lean production months, like July-August and October-November, exacerbated by seasonal challenges like monsoons and transit losses.
Out of the 1,376 ideas received, 423 were shortlisted in the first stage, and 28 were funded. These ideas came from students, researchers, industry professionals, startups, and MSMEs. Among them, 14 patents have already been registered. The government will now assist these startups in scaling their businesses, facilitating investor connections and corporate partnerships.
