info@mandalaagrifresh.com
Golfutar, Budhanilkantha-8, Kathmandu
+977 9741688523 | 9822784000


Imagine this: a field bursting with vibrant green spinach, a potential powerhouse of vitamins just waiting to land on your plate. Now picture this: that same spinach, wilted, bruised, and tossed on the floor like yesterday's news when you buy it in the market. This, my friends, is not just an imaginary scene from a food documentary; it is the harsh reality of a broken food system, a story we encounter far too often throughout the Nepal’s fresh produce supply chain. However, this tale is not just about spinach; it is about every single piece of food that journeys from farm to table. It’s about the essence of food loss and waste, as well as food safety and security.

 

Poor Handling from Farm to Market

Let's start at the source—right at the farm where the series of mishandling begins. Despite their hard work and dedication, the farmers, pressed for time and resources, neglect proper handling and packaging, setting the stage for further degradation as the produce moves along the supply chain. Harvested leaves, left unprotected under the direct sun, are collected and bundled, then carried in local baskets (doko) only to be staked under the sun and covered by a thick tarp. Sometimes, they are collected in nylon sacks and taken to a collection point where they remain for hours.  

Picture 1: Leafy greens stacked on the ground and covered with tarpaulin at a roadside collection point in Dolakha.

 

Then come the first level of traders—the middlemen responsible for collecting and transporting spinach from farm to market. This is where the actual mismanagement starts. The loaders, often with no understanding of food safety, good handling, or proper packaging practices, leave the harvest exposed, falling into the dirt and being picked up only to be tossed around carelessly. Sometimes, the loaders, with little regard for hygiene, press down on the spinach with dirty slippers, and some even place tires on top of the spinach to compact it or to stand on while loading. This results in not just massive losses but also compromises food hygiene and safety. The situation worsens during transportation. Spinach is stacked in vehicles without any covering, exposed to the elements and contaminants. By the time the spinach reaches the market, it is often thrown on the floor, further compromising its quality and safety. The result? Massive losses due to wilting, weight loss, and damage, ultimately shifting the cost to consumers who pay higher prices for very low-quality produce.

 

The Vicious Cycle of Blame

The resultant loss of spinach is staggering. Wilted, damaged, and decaying, the spinach loses weight and nutritional value, ultimately becoming a financial burden. Consumers, who end up paying high prices for low-quality produce, are the unwitting victims of this neglect. A personal anecdote underscores this issue: despite being willing to pay extra for better quality produce, finding a decent lettuce salad has become a rarity, highlighting the pervasive problem of poor post-harvest management.

Picture 2: Traders handle leafy greens at Birtamode Market.

So, who is to blame for this dismal state of affairs? The blame game is all too familiar. Farmers accuse traders of rough handling, while traders point fingers at farmers for providing sub-par produce without proper grading, packaging or sorting. All in all, this endless cycle of blame benefits no one. While the blame game goes round and round, the cost of this neglect falls on everyone's shoulders—lower margins for farmers due to losses, and consumers bearing the brunt of higher prices for inferior produce. While the traders play some level of safe game by shifting the margins, they too face loss and profit uncertainty. It's a lose-lose situation that demands our attention and action.


Indifferent Stakeholders and Distressing Mindset

The indifference towards produce quality is shocking. But here's the truth: nobody in this chain truly cares about the quality of the produce. All stakeholders seem to be content with the status quo, showing little concern for the deteriorating standards and just accepting low quality and massive losses as a given. This mindset becomes clear from the outrageous claim made by one of the vendors we interacted with in Biratnagar, who even went as far as claiming that customers do not care about quality and only care about cheap prices, regardless of the condition of the produce. While some might prioritize affordability, I refuse to believe that most consumers are okay with such blatant disregard for quality and hygiene. This could not be further from the truth. Consumers value quality and are increasingly aware about the importance of food safety and nutrition. The idea that people would willingly buy produce lying on the floor simply because it's cheaper is both insulting and absurd.


A Call for Holistic Change

It is clear that just pointing fingers won't solve the problem. It's time to break this cycle of blame and indifference. It's time to recognize that we all have a role to play in ensuring that we have access to safe and nutritious food at affordable prices. We need a comprehensive overhaul of the food system, one that prioritizes education, regulation, and accountability at every stage of production, transportation, distribution and retail. It's time for a holistic change that prioritizes quality, safety, and sustainability at every step of the journey from farm to fork.

Farmers need access to training, resources and technologies to improve their handling and packaging practices. Traders must clean up their act, implementing stricter hygiene and handling protocols, recognizing their critical role in maintaining the quality of produce. And consumers, on the other hand, must raise their voices, demanding transparency and higher standards from those who supply their food.

 

Mandala Agrifresh: A Beacon of Hope

Now the question remains: who will lead this charge for change? While it’s the responsibility of everyone, the role of government remains crucial for a system-wide upgrade that prioritizes proper post-harvest management practices. There are some good examples like Mandala Agrifresh, a post-harvest management company that is leading the way, demonstrating how appropriate technological interventions, combined with proper handling, storage, and transportation, can drastically minimize food losses and ensure food reaches consumers in good condition. By investing in proper handling and packaging technologies, Mandala Agrifresh is working towards minimizing loss and ensuring that the produce retains its weight, quality and nutritional value from the field to retail. They have demonstrated that it is possible to create a system where everyone benefits—farmers get fair margins, traders maintain high standards, and consumers receive top-quality produce at competitive prices. But they can't do it alone. Companies like Mandala Agrifresh need your support to bring about real change in our food system.

Picture 3: Mandala Agrifresh demonstrating how to pack leafy greens in MAP bags to maintain quality from farm to fork.

Let's learn from these examples and demand better. Let's rewrite the story of food, one spinach leaf at a time, and build a food system that values quality, reduces food loss and waste, and ensures everyone gets a fair shot at safe, nutritious food. We deserve nothing less.

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+977 9741688523 | 9822784000
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