The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, in partnership with the Innovation Cell under the Ministry of Education, projected the Tomato Grand Challenge (TGC) on June 30, 2023. The industry sought creative solutions across different sets of the tomato value chain, with the goal of managing the Structural challenges faced by the industry, from production to distribution.
India, being the world’s second-largest producer of tomatoes, faces major hurdles despite its annual production of 20 million metric tons. Unfavorable weather situations, such as heavy rains and unpredictable heat waves, often lead to excessive price changes, impacting farmers' incomes and disrupting supply chains. These challenges also contribute to actual wastage, making it important to find sustainable, scalable solutions to stabilize the tomato market.
The Tomato Grand Challenge asked participants from across the nation, including students, research scholars, faculty members, industry professionals, start-ups, and developers. The response was overwhelming, with 1,376 creative ideas introduced from all corners of India. After a complete evaluation process, 423 ideas were shortlisted in Round 1, and 29 of them moved to Round 2. Finally, 28 profitable tasks received funding for prototype products and mentorship.
Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, shared that these tasks are being closely watched by dedicated evaluation representatives from AICTE and DoCA. The final evaluation of the tasks, which took place on October 14-15, 2024, focused on their applicability, scalability, and creation.
Some of the most impactful outcomes of the challenge include the result of creative packaging and transportation solutions prepared to expand shelf life and reduce post-harvest losses. Several tasks also focused on creating processed tomato products that can reduce wastage by expanding their usability and ensuring year-round availability. Other solutions managed key challenges in pre-production, post-harvest loss, and supply chain inefficiencies caused by fragmented methods and middleman power.
The industry has already directed special academic property products, including 14 patents, 4 design rolls, 10 publications, and a brand. These results show the powerful effect of the Tomato Grand Challenge on India’s agricultural sector, forming a standard for future creation.
By promoting partnerships between academia, drive and government, the Tomato Grand Challenge has shown the ability of creation to solve leading agricultural challenges. The solutions appearing from this industry not only swear to improve the stability and profitability of India’s tomato supply chain but also act as an ideal for managing problems in other agricultural sectors. The effects of this challenge are expected to help both tomato farmers and consumers across the country.(PIB)