Food industry consultant Bhushan Namdeorao Yengade moderated a strategic session at Anuga FoodTec India in Mumbai, where he analyzed how infrastructure deficits and post-harvest losses are limiting the country’s agricultural export potential. Yengade is the founder of Binder Technology Consultancy and national vice president of CPRTTF.
Yengade opened the discussion with a Binder Technology Consultancy case study on the domestic mango trade. It highlighted the recent import ban imposed by Japan over non-compliance with international sanitary standards. He noted that despite holding a dominant share of global mango production, the country captures less than 1% of the global export market, representing a significant loss in potential foreign exchange earnings.
A market survey from Gujarat further illustrated the economic vulnerabilities of the primary sector. The moderator detailed the supply chain shocks observed during a recent lumpy skin disease outbreak in the dairy hub of Anand. He explained the direct financial losses incurred by rural producers and the subsequent supply-side volatility experienced by the dairy industry.
Turning to macroeconomic risks, Yengade briefed attendees on the financial implications of the current weather pattern, which has led to a deficient monsoon season. The climate anomaly is expected to reduce crop yields significantly, increasing the urgency for capital investment in cold-chain logistics to mitigate post-harvest losses. He added that ongoing geopolitical tensions are compounding these domestic supply risks by inflating global logistics costs.
Panelists offered operational solutions to these systemic vulnerabilities. Vijay Nagariya, vice president of supply chain and organized retail at Drums Food International, detailed the capital expenditure required to scale dairy distribution networks and achieve last-mile freshness in an inflationary environment. Addressing the role of predictive analytics, Shankar Kausley, senior scientist at Tata Consultancy Services, demonstrated digital twin simulations and algorithmic forecasting. Parama Bhadra said food supply strategies must evolve to meet changing consumer preferences while maintaining a delicate balance between food security, regulatory compliance, and margin sustainability.
The consensus among the participants was that upgrading domestic supply chain standards to global benchmarks is an economic imperative for market retention.
