‘Moomba’, a Maharashtra-based brand is making significant strides in reducing post-harvest losses in India, which account for 40 percent of agricultural produce — equating to $14 billion annually.

By employing solar-powered dehydration technology, Moomba transforms produce that would otherwise be discarded into shelf-stable food ingredients.

“This not only cuts down on waste but also enhances food security for communities,” notes Vaibhav Tidke, co-founder of S4S Technologies, the agricultural startup behind the Moomba brand.

Founded in 2019 by seven friends with farming backgrounds, including Vaibhav Tidke, S4S Technologies aims to make a difference in the lives of smallholder farmers.

Sharing his insight on the post-harvest losses, Vaibhav says, “This occurs due to various factors such as inadequate storage facilities, poor infrastructure, inefficient supply chains and lack of proper processing technology.”

The startup employs its patented Solar Conduction Dryer (SCD) technology. It harnesses the sun's heat to remove moisture from food items – including fruits, vegetables, grains, and spices – effectively dehydrating them.

Moomba processes a variety of products such as potatoes, green peas, corn, ginger, tomato, and pumpkins into various forms like whole, chopped, minced, granules, powder, kibbled, and sliced.

So far, the company has successfully prevented 2 lakh tonnes of food from being wasted, significantly enhancing food security in communities.

The company is also associated with over 4 lakh smallholder farmers and has empowered 3,500 women.

Vaibhav explains, “By converting unsellable produce into marketable products, we empower women farmers, helping them break the debt cycle and gain financial stability.”