The establishment of cold storage infrastructure powered by renewable energy, has resulted in many more benefits than just improving the livelihoods of small horticulture farmers in Sadali village in Karnataka. The initiative which actively involved women and youth serves as a model to minimize waste, enhance food security and contribute to the sustainable development goals.
Agriculture is a vital sector in India, supporting nearly 60% of the population. Small and marginal farmers play a crucial role in the country’s agricultural output. Still, they face numerous challenges, especially as growers of highly perishable crops like fruits, vegetables and flowers. These challenges include inadequate storage facilities, unreliable power supply, and high post-harvest losses. These often result in wastage of produce, low-income opportunities and hinder economic growth in rural communities. On the other hand, solar technologies are rapidly becoming integral to agricultural practices. They not only foster resilience in farming communities but also significantly contribute towards mitigating the broader impact of climate change through the adoption of eco-friendly practices. Using this technology to address the issues of farmers growing perishables, in 2023-24, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), implemented an innovative solar-powered cold room project in Sadali village, Chikkaballapura district in Karnataka. With the financial support of EKOenergy, the women-centric project aims to improve the lives of small and marginal farmers, covering 5 Grama panchayaths (34 villages), covering 5617 farmers
The Initiative
In the project village Sadali, nearly 35% of the total 800 farmers in the village are small and marginal farmers, possessing less than 2 hectares of agricultural land. Major horticulture crops grown in this region are mango, grapes, pomegranate, sapota, guava, papaya, banana, citrus and cut flowers. Owing to lack of post-harvest infrastructure like warehouses, chains of cold storage, grading and packing houses, besides erratic power supply, farmers were forced to transport their horticultural produce to the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) yard or to private traders for immediate sale. This resulted in low prices for the produce.
The nearest conventional cold storage facilities, connected to the grid, are situated about 30 kilometers from the village. The storage fees is very high at Rs 2 per kilogram for a five-day period. This was unaffordable to majority of the farmers. The establishment of this kind of cold storages is unaffordable for small and marginal farmers, and for the minimum capacity of 100 MT to 1000 MT, the costs range from Rs 60 to 275 lakhs.
Sadaliamma Horticulture Farmer Producer Company Ltd. (SHFP Co. Ltd.) is a local Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) in Sadali village formed a decade ago. The FPO has mainly been in the business of supplying agricultural inputs (seeds, pesticides and fertilizers) to the farmers at wholesale rates. The FPO was consistently receiving requests from farmers, particularly women, for viable solutions to the challenges posed by quickly perishable products during periods of low demand. In order to tackle this on-going and persistent problem, the FPO approached TERI for assistance in implementing a sustainable solution utilizing its technological innovations.
The Process
TERI executed the project in three distinct phases: the planning phase, the implementation phase, and the withdrawal phase. An integrated institutional approach was adopted, with TERI assuming the role of overall coordinator for project execution, which included the establishment of a solar-powered cold room and the subsequent transfer of the system to SHFP Co. Ltd. The Taluk level Department of Horticulture (DoH) facilitated training and capacity building, along with technical guidance. The device supplier was responsible for the installation and annual maintenance of the solar cold room. SHFP Co. Ltd. (the beneficiary) provided the necessary space for the system’s installation.
Initially, secondary data on crop growing area, type of horticulture crops, package of practices (harvesting, cleaning, sorting, storing, packing of vegetables, fruits and flowers), marketing practices, demand and supply and issues faced at the local level was collected from the departments at district and taluk levels. Further, elaborated information was collected from the farmer members of SHFPCo Ltd through household survey. The sample size of the household survey was about 10% (100 farmers). Additionally, detailed discussions were held with women farmers and committee members of SHFP Co., Ltd., and Department of Horticulture (DoH), Government of Karnataka, for integration of project activities and developing a framework for project planning, implementation, and post-management. Owing to the significant demand for sustainable solutions for the storage of perishable goods, TERI offered to address this issue by establishing cold storage infrastructure powered by renewable energy.
Pilot demo unit
Based on the outcomes of discussions with various stakeholders a suitable 5MT solar based cold room was designed and demonstrated in the project site. TERI demonstrated an off-grid solar-powered cold room system with a capacity of 5 Metric tons (MT), which operates using a 5kWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This system charges during daylight hours and maintains a cool environment in the cold room for 24 hours, without relying on batteries, diesel, or conventional energy sources.
The technology supplier was selected from TERI’s short-listed supplier, who is capable of supplying good quality system in a stipulated time, providing better service after sales and long-term support.
The project covered the entire cost of the device, amounting to Rs 14 lakhs, while the Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) provided space for installation, ensured its maintenance post-installation, and offered the solar cold room for rent to farmers, with a particular emphasis on supporting women farmers. TERI has implemented a service mechanism for the repair and maintenance of the solar cold room, managed by trained women CEOs of SHFPCo Ltd and the product supplier.
Women-led management
The project placed a strong emphasis on the involvement of women at every stage, from planning and execution to management. A women-led committee was formed to oversee the daily operations and maintenance of the solar cold room, ensuring that the project is both gender-sensitive and sustainable. The EKOenergy Solar-based Cold Room Committee (EKOSCC), which includes women members, was established under the project to monitor the system and provide support and approvals for the utilization of SHFP Co. Ltd. funds for the maintenance and replacement of spare parts for the solar cold room as needed.
Women members and CEO of the FPO were trained to oversee the system and assess the advantages of the cold room. Two skill training programs were organised for the members of the EKOenergy Solar Cooling System Committee (EKOSCC) and the farmer members of SHFPCo Ltd, encompassing both men and women. The first training focused on the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of cold storage facilities. This program primarily aimed to equip committee members with the necessary skills to manage the system on a daily basis, including the loading and unloading of materials, temperature control to preserve product quality, and system cleaning. Additionally, participants were instructed on power connectivity and the transition from solar energy to conventional electricity during periods of cloudiness and rainfall, as well as troubleshooting at various levels and online system monitoring. The second program addressed Processing, Packaging, and Marketing techniques for various horticultural crops. This training involved several experts who provided insights into processing methods, including harvesting, cleaning, and grading. In the packaging segment, participants learned strategies to minimize damage during transportation. Furthermore, the marketing component covered e-marketing platforms and various marketing strategies.
Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) was organised by involving 6 entrepreneurs from different parts of Karnataka and 10 women farmers from the project site. This program primarily focused on the various business opportunities that can be pursued through the utilization of solar-powered cold storage facilities. These include the preservation of mushrooms, dairy products, and other perishable items, which can open up new revenue streams. Additionally, it provided insights into bank loan options available for entrepreneurs seeking to invest in solar cold storage solutions, as well as the support offered by the Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka.
A log book was kept at FPO office for collecting of actual data on material inflow and out flow of horticulture produce, temperature data of cooler and outside environment, electricity consumption during cloudy condition, revenue generated from renting of the unit, quality of the horticulture produce and additional profit obtained by due to increase in shelf life of the produce.
A technical manual on operation and maintenance was developed and shared with the FPO. The operational and maintenance requirements for the solar cold room are minimal, involving only the weekly addition of 20 liters of potable water to the storage and monthly cleaning of the solar panels. The system can be operated via a mobile application, allowing users to set the storage temperature for their produce, monitor system operations, and identify any issues that may arise. Currently, the system is managed by a woman CEO of the FPO. All farmers in the project area are well-connected with the FPO to access the solar cold room. The company has placed a notice board at their office displaying contact numbers for renting the facility, which is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Results
While the cost of storing produce in traditional grid-connected cold storage facilities is Rs 2 per kilogram over a five-day period, the FPO charges only Rs 1 per kilogram for the same duration. Between December 11, 2023, and December 30, 2024, approximately 60 individual farmers utilized the solar cold room to store a total of 15 MT (1 MT = 1000 kg) of horticultural products, including cucumber, rose, and marigold. As a result, SHFP Co. Ltd. generated Rs 40,000 as the rental income.
The farmers have expressed satisfaction with the cold room, noting that it maintains a consistent temperature to prevent spoilage and prolong the shelf life of their produce. Also, there is significant reduction in costs in using the solar cold room, rendering it a viable option for small-scale farmers who have previously faced challenges due to the high expenses of conventional cold storage.
By gaining insights into the new business opportunities emerging from the use of the solar-based cold room system, a group of five women farmers from Sadali village have sought assistance from the Department of Horticulture to obtain a subsidy for the purchase of a 5MT solar-based cold room. Through reduced food wastage, reliance on renewable energy, and increased food security, the project also contributes towards sustainable development goals.
The active involvement of both male and female farmers, along with the Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) and the Department of Horticulture, in all phases of the project—including the design of the solar cold room has fostered a sense of ownership among the participants. Farmers view the solar cold room as a community asset, while the engagement of government department highlights the potential for collaborative efforts at the grassroots level. A key outcome of this project is the heightened awareness among farmers and villagers regarding solar energy and its advantages for both the society and the environment.
Way Forward
TERI has put significant efforts to increase the availability of solar-powered cold storage facilities in the region, with the objective of making these technologies accessible to very small and marginal farmers. To this end, six entrepreneurs from various regions of Karnataka have been trained. Additionally, TERI has facilitated connections between these entrepreneurs and suppliers, as well as nationalized banks, such as the State Bank of India, to assist them in securing loans to establish their businesses. Currently, the entrepreneurs are actively working on their initiatives.
Following a stakeholder workshop organized by TERI in Chikkaballapur, members of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) from other talukas have approached the Department of Horticulture to seek subsidies and have formulated a plan to invest 60% of the funds required to purchase solar-based cold storage units. We will also look towards other avenues for scaling up of this decentralised community centric solution.
The successful implementation of the solar cold room project in Sadali village, which actively involved women and youth, has established a robust framework for replicating this model in other regions of Karnataka and beyond. By prioritizing inclusivity for women, engaging youth, and fostering community-led innovations, the project has significantly bolstered the confidence of the rural farming community. It has not only improved the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers but has also minimized product waste, enhanced food security, and contributed to the sustainable advancement of the agricultural sector.
Y. Nagaraju
Senior Manager, Sustainable Services Management (SSM)
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Southern Regional Centre, 4th Main, Domlur II Stage
Bangalore – 560 071, Karnataka
Email: nagaraju@teri.res.in
Website: www.teriin.org
