Celcius Logistics brings together Jammu & Kashmir’s FPOs to showcase cold-chain solutions for reducing wastage and increasing incomes
SRINAGAR: Celcius Logistics, a leading domestic 3PL logistics player providing end-to-end cold-chain solutions, brought together Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), aggregators, distributors, traders and other stakeholders from the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture ecosystem to showcase the benefits of temperature-controlled cold chain solution.
The discussions highlighted how technology-enabled cold-chain logistics solutions can help reduce post-harvest wastage, preserve produce quality, improve market access and increase incomes for growers and other participants across the agricultural value chain.
Jammu & Kashmir is one of India’s most important horticulture regions, known for producing apples, cherries, pears, walnuts, almonds and a range of other high-value crops. However, post-harvest losses continue to impact the sector’s growth potential. According to NITI Aayog’s report#, “Roadmap for Horticulture Development in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir @ 2047”, the Union Territory loses approximately 500,000 tonnes each of apples and vegetables annually, resulting in an estimated economic loss of over ₹3,060 crore, including ₹1,500 crore from apples and ₹1,560 crore from vegetables.
Against this backdrop, the engagement focused on addressing key challenges related to storage, transportation, market access and supply-chain efficiency. Participants explored how integrated cold-chain infrastructure can help maintain product quality from harvest to consumption, minimise spoilage and create opportunities for higher returns.
The meet covered best practices in temperature-controlled transportation and storage, along with the role of technology in enabling real-time shipment tracking, route optimisation, inventory visibility and improved supply-chain coordination. Stakeholders also gained insights into how cold-chain networks can help extend shelf life, reduce quality deterioration and facilitate access to wider markets across India.
The discussions highlighted the growing importance of efficient cold-chain infrastructure in strengthening farm-to-market linkages, particularly for perishable commodities where delays and inadequate storage can significantly impact product quality and value realisation.
Speaking about the initiative, Swarup Bose, Founder & CEO, Celcius Logistics, said: “Jammu & Kashmir’s horticulture sector plays a significant role in India’s fresh produce economy and supports the livelihoods of thousands of growers and agricultural businesses. Yet, substantial post-harvest losses continue to erode value across the supply chain. Through this engagement, we aim to demonstrate how technology-enabled cold-chain solutions can help stakeholders reduce wastage, maintain product quality, improve market access and increase income opportunities. Building efficient farm-to-market supply chains is critical to unlocking the full potential of the region’s horticulture sector.”
As consumer demand for fresh produce continues to grow across India, efficient cold-chain networks are becoming increasingly important for ensuring product quality, reducing losses and improving supply-chain efficiency. By enabling better storage and transportation, cold-chain infrastructure can help growers and FPOs access larger markets, improve price realisation and enhance overall competitiveness.
The initiative is part of Celcius Logistics’ ongoing efforts to support wider adoption of cold-chain solutions across India’s agricultural ecosystem. Through stakeholder engagement and knowledge-sharing initiatives, the company aims to contribute towards reducing food losses, strengthening supply chains and creating greater economic value for farming communities.
