Estimation of Harvest and Post-Harvest Losses of Cereals and Effect of Mechanisation in Different Agro-Climatic Zones of India

A concurrent survey was conducted in India during 2012-14 to estimate the harvest and post-harvest losses of cereals covering 107 districts. The losses were recorded by personal interviews and observations in different farm operations and market points. The district-level data were pooled according to agroclimatic zones (ACZ). The loss at the national level was estimated by pooling the loss at ACZ level using production as credence. Total losses of cereals at the national level varied between 4.65 to 5.99 per cent. Loss in farm operations ranged between 3.90 to 4.78 per cent, while, loss during storage was between 0.75 per cent to1.21 per cent. Delay in harvesting followed by improper threshing and winnowing and inappropriate storage practices contributed more towards overall losses. Overall, the estimated monetary value of losses was to the tune of Rs. 20698 crore at the average annual price of 2014 and production of selected cereals in 2012-13.The role of mechanisation in preventing losses of cereals is evident from the results as there were significantly lower losses in the mechanised regions of India.