Post-harvest losses account for nearly 40% of agricultural produce in India and this result with an annual economic loss of $14 billion. Maharashtra-based brand Moomba from the stable of S4S Technologies is addressing the challenge with solar-powered dehydration technology. The primary aim is to turn the discarded crops into shelf-stable food ingredients.
More than 3,500 women farmers are now earning between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh annually with the help of Moomba. S4S Technologies CEO and co-founder Vaibhav Tidke said that the increased income is crucial for them to break the cycle of debt.
The impact of Moomba extends beyond economic empowerment. It uses renewable energy to process food. It has prevented 2 lakh tonnes of food from being wasted. It also mitigated 1.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. The solar-powered technology uses sunlight to dehydrate crops like fruits, vegetables and grains. This extends the shelf life of the produce without relying on electricity or fossil fuels.
The efforts of Moomba are boosting incomes and enhancing food security. Its products range from dehydrated vegetables to grains and spices. These are supplied to more than 10,000 customers. These include packaged food companies, cloud kitchens and restaurants. Moomba is making a significant mark in the food industry with an annual revenue of Rs 200 crore.
The founders have farming backgrounds and are committed to addressing systemic issues such as inadequate storage, poor infrastructure and inefficient supply chains. The company is currently working closely with more than 4 lakh smallholder farmers.
Co-founder Tidke said that they are enabling the farmers to become entrepreneurs and the primary goal is to drive meaningful as well as lasting impact for the communities that they serve.
