The Tomato Grand Challenge (TGC) was launched on 30 June 2023 by the Department of Consumer Affairs in collaboration with the Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education. This initiative aimed to address critical issues in the tomato value chain in India. With India being the second-largest producer of tomatoes, the challenge sought to find innovative solutions to combat the adverse effects of climate change, supply chain inefficiencies, and post-harvest losses.
Context of the Challenge
The tomato industry faces important challenges. Adverse weather conditions lead to production fluctuations. Farmers experience income instability due to price volatility. The challenge invited ideas from students, researchers, and professionals. A total of 1,376 proposals were submitted, showcasing the enthusiasm of innovators across India.
Evaluation Process
The evaluation process was rigorous. Initially, 423 ideas were shortlisted. Of these, 29 advanced to the second round. Ultimately, 28 projects received funding and mentorship. The evaluation committee conducted periodic reviews and assessments. The final evaluations took place on 14-15 October 2024. Projects were judged based on relevance, scalability, and innovation.
Key Challenges Addressed
The TGC addressed several systemic challenges in the tomato sector: 1. Pre-Production – Limited access to climate-resilient seeds and poor agronomic practices. 2. Post-Harvest Loss – Insufficient cold storage facilities and improper handling. 3. Processing & Value Addition – Inadequate infrastructure for processing surplus tomatoes. 4. Supply Chain – Fragmented supply chains and dominance of middlemen. 5. Market Access & Demand Forecasting – Inconsistent access and lack of forecasting tools. 6. Technological Adoption – Limited awareness of modern agricultural technologies. 7. Packaging and Transportation – Need for innovative solutions to enhance shelf life.
Outcomes and Impact
The TGC has had a measurable impact on the tomato value chain. Key outcomes include: – Development of innovative packaging solutions to reduce post-harvest losses. – Creation of processed tomato products to ensure year-round availability. – Filing of 14 patents and 4 design registrations. – Enhanced collaboration between academia, industry, and government. These outcomes promise to increase profitability for stakeholders and set a benchmark for addressing challenges in other agricultural commodities.
Future Implications
The success of the Tomato Grand Challenge marks the importance of innovation in agriculture. It demonstrates how collaborative efforts can lead to sustainable solutions. The findings from this initiative can be applied to improve other sectors within Indian agriculture, ensuring resilience and sustainability.
Questions for UPSC:
- Discuss the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity in India.
- Critically examine the role of technology in enhancing agricultural supply chains.
- Explain the significance of value addition in the agricultural sector.
- With suitable examples, discuss the challenges faced by farmers in India’s agricultural landscape.
Answer Hints:
1. Discuss the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity in India.
- Climate change leads to unpredictable weather patterns, affecting crop yields.
- Extreme weather events like floods and droughts increase the risk of crop failure.
- Altered rainfall patterns disrupt planting and harvesting schedules.
- Rising temperatures can reduce soil fertility and increase pest and disease prevalence.
- Farmers face economic instability due to fluctuating production and market prices.
2. Critically examine the role of technology in enhancing agricultural supply chains.
- Technology improves efficiency through precision farming and data analytics.
- IoT devices enable real-time monitoring of crops and supply chain logistics.
- Blockchain enhances transparency and traceability in transactions.
- Mobile applications facilitate better market access for farmers.
- Automation reduces labor costs and improves handling during processing and transportation.
3. Explain the significance of value addition in the agricultural sector.
- Value addition increases the shelf life and marketability of agricultural products.
- It enhances profitability for farmers by transforming raw produce into processed goods.
- Value-added products can cater to diverse consumer preferences and demand.
- It creates employment opportunities in processing and distribution sectors.
- Innovation in value addition can lead to sustainable practices and reduced waste.
4. With suitable examples, discuss the challenges faced by farmers in India’s agricultural landscape.
- Farmers face income instability due to price volatility in crops like tomatoes.
- Limited access to quality seeds and modern farming techniques hampers productivity.
- Post-harvest losses are important due to inadequate storage and transport facilities.
- Fragmented supply chains lead to exploitation by middlemen and reduced farmer profits.
- Climate change impacts, such as erratic rainfall and temperature extremes, threaten crop viability.
