India is a large producer of food, specifically, fruits and vegetables and ranks among the top three producers across the world, but due to heavy post-harvest losses, the country is able to export only a very small fraction. The scenario can be improved if cold chain logistics are improved. With the coming of organized retail (in food) and its improving presence since the last decade or so, we can hope that the cold chain infrastructure in the coming time will get better owing to: initiatives by stakeholders, learning from foreign collaboration, farmers becoming more aware of getting better deals for their produce via initiatives like e-choupal, etc. The present paper attempts to understand the effect of certain demographic factors on cold storage manager’s perception of cold chain logistics, as they (cold store managers) form an important link in the value chain.

Food sector of India, in the last decade or so, has attracted the attention of the world owing to the tremendous potential that the geography, climate and soil offers, and above that the improving economic stature that is also witnessing a change in food habits and expectations of people. There are issues of concerns, though, that need attention like huge losses in perishables (food) because of infrastructural deficiencies. Exhibit 1 offers recent update on production of fruits and vegetables in India.

Post-Harvest Losses

India, the world’s second largest producer of fruits and vegetables, is throwing away fresh produce worth 13,300 cr every year because of the country’s lack of adequate cold storage facilities and refrigerated transport, according to the data compiled in a new report by Emerson Climate Technologies India, a business of the US-based manufacturing and technology Company (Bhosale, 2013). The losses across food chain in India occur due to various reasons (Exhibit 2).

Besides the reasons cited in Exhibit 2, another major one for wastages/post-harvest losses is temperature abuse. The losses can be curbed through promotion of food processing industry, developing better infrastructure for cold chains, improving transportation and storage facilities.

Supply Chain Management Journal, Cold Chain, Logistics, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Food Retail in India, India, Study of Cold, Store Manager, Post-Harvest, Processed Food Industry, Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), Losses.