Impact of support for post-harvest technologies on farm income: assessment across three Indian states

This paper examines the role of post-harvest practices in bridging the gap between consumer prices and the prices realized by the farmers. Minimization of food losses is only one way in which post-harvest management affects the gap between producer and consumer prices. There are several other pathways in which post-harvest practices can contribute towards bridging the gap between consumer and producer price; post-harvest management can reduce the risk and the uncertainty faced by the farmer. The costs associated with post-harvest practices including specific transportation costs, cold storages, information and processing are all lumpy and can be prohibitive for the small farmer. We also look at outcomes such as consumption of perishables, market penetration of perishables, consumption expenditure and the food and non-food expenditure of farming households.