Introduction

Currently, India is facing the worst scenario of food inflation which is claimed highest since 1998. Currently, India’s economy is in trouble due to an extra burden of food inflation along with petroleum products. Inflation is becoming out of control nowadays and it may create food security issues in the near future. In the recent past, the Indian government took the initiative to distribute food grains free of cost to the needy. There is no doubt; that the initiative will somehow alleviate the food security problems temporarily. But is it a true or sustainable solution to actually address the food security issues?

On the other hand, the Russia-Ukraine war has deeply affected the world’s food market which will be for sure paid for by every country directly and indirectly. In the near past, the pandemic situation of the corona has already broken the base of the economy throughout the world. Somehow, developed nations such as the United States of America have maintained the losses but underdeveloped and developing countries have been affected badly. Recently the Indian government have put some cap on the export of wheat grains due to
comparatively low wheat production than the previous year so as not to allow domestic inflation and also to maintain the accessibility of food among the people. Because, wheat and wheat flour is used as raw material starting from basic home chapatti to processed bread, snacks etc. A person can withstand the high price of petroleum products but he/she could not afford the high price of foods due to their low per capita income.

Food Security: A Vision of food scientist

Professionals from different fields can explain food security issues from different viewpoints. But as food technologists and scientists, we have to analyse what kinds of measures, we can take to strengthen the situation after harvesting the crops.

A food scientist can assure the food quality after harvesting so that we could reduce the post-harvest losses in cereal grains, fruits and vegetables i.e. by applying the latest technologies, we could preserve the food commodities. The only thing, food scientists & technologists can do is they should invent cost-effective farmer-friendly novel post-harvest technologies to reduce post-harvest losses. Once a technology is developed, the farmers should provide the training through extension programmes by visiting the villages and telling them about the technology, its use and its benefits.

This is my personal experience that in India, many where the food technology departments are running without any extension activity and even they don’t have any such plan for the coming future. Most colleges and universities are running just for monetary
purposes and actually are playing with the future of students. It is extremely and humbly requested to the responsible authorities kindly audit and give the ultimatum to such colleges and universities to fulfil their standards as per regulatory agencies. If not, then it should take necessary action against them. Otherwise, we would not build good institutions for the next generation.

 Ultimately, there is a need that, for the newer technologies developed in the food technology department must be told to the nearby people so as to get benefits by starting their own starts ups. In this way, we could justify the subsidies and investments given by the govt. of India to the academic institutions for the welfare of society ultimately.

Awareness of the latest technologies

In India, awareness is the major problem i.e. farmers are unaware of the latest post-harvest technologies and even up to some extent the central and state-funded institutions are not actually playing their role in identifying and addressing the problem at the farmer’s end. Now, is high time to start such programmes and be aware of the farmers with the latest cost-effective post-harvest technologies so that they could put their efforts to reduce post-harvest losses and ultimately could get better revenue from their crops.

Generally, the food can be preserved for a long time in several ways:

1. Either by removing excess moisture content through drying unit operations. nowadays, scientists and engineers have developed low-cost dryers operated with solar systems for farmers. This is just an example of a low-cost farmer’s friendly dryer. Today, it is a need to invent and design economic farmer-friendly machines so that farmers can start food processing at their doorsteps and make more money.

2. The food can be preserved by freezing technology by decreasing the enzymatic activity thereby decreasing microbial growth. So, it is a need to develop low-cost freezing technology or to design a cool chamber with zero energy. This way farmers could extend the shelf life of their products and can sell them when they will get a favourable market price. 

3. We can increase the shelf life of agricultural produce by making cost-effective novel packaging materials that can help in reducing post-harvest losses during storage and transportation. 

No doubt, India has great potential to overcome the above-mentioned problems and pave a new path of success by revolutionising the food and agriculture sector with the latest technologies, especially in fighting the challenges of post-harvest losses and thereby food security.