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Cooling from the Sun: Innovations for Effective Post-Harvest Cold Storage in Rural Areas of India

Research Technical Assistance Center

Expanding access to cold storage for rural farmers reduces food waste, supports food security, and increases farmers’ income. Innovations that use solar energy and low-cost materials, such as the Farm SunFridge (FSF) model, increase access to refrigerated cold storage for rural farmers who lack reliable electricity. To make certain this innovation reaches rural farmers, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), and farming communities who can benefit from it, officials from government agencies must ensure that grants and loans for solar-powered cold storage using the FSF model are accessible through subsidies and funds that support agricultural development. The information presented in this policy brief is based on research led by Dr. Sangeeta Chopra of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) with Dr. Randolph Beaudry and Dr. Norbert Müller of Michigan State University.

 

This brief is available in both English and Hindi.

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Toxic Arsenic in Drinking Water

Research Technical Assistance Center

The fact sheet “Millions of People in India Consume Toxic Arsenic in Drinking Water” provides an a practical, sustainable, and profitable way to reduce arsenic in drinking water.  The fact sheet highlights ECAR technology, developed by Dr. Ashok Gadgil and a team of scientists in 2006, is a sustainable development solution that generates profitable local business while addressing inequities in access to drinking water.