Founded in 2021, Mandala Agrifresh is a Nepali supply chain management company focused on creating a sustainable agriculture supply chain to reduce post-harvest losses. The company’s low-cost, sustainable model targets the horticulture sector, offering access to post-harvest technologies and practices that extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Mandala currently collaborates with over 500 market actors, including farmers and traders, and provides technical support in post-harvest management.

Operating primarily in Province 3, Mandala Agrifresh’s contact information is available on their website(https://www.mandalaagrifresh.com/).

Action Research on Innovative Post-Harvest Technology

According to CASA’s 2019 vegetable sector strategy, post-harvest losses in the sector reach up to 40%, creating inefficiencies and widening the price gap from farmgate to retail. To address this, Mandala introduced passive Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) bags, ethylene absorber sachets, and other affordable post-harvest solutions to prolong the freshness of produce. MAP bags, for instance, control oxygen levels and moisture, slowing down the respiration and ripening of vegetables.

Mandala aims to scale these technologies commercially to make them accessible to farmers, cooperatives, and traders. As current trials are limited to their supply chain, broader trials with third-party feedback are needed to validate and improve adoption.

With CASA’s support, Mandala conducted action research trials with high-value crops like leafy greens, coriander, bell peppers, okra, and chilies in Provinces 2 and 5. Findings from these trials is now documented in a “Rapid Action Research” report to advocate for government support and subsidies, making these technologies more affordable for farmers, collectors, and traders.

The project ran from September 2023 to July 2024, providing technical assistance and targeting outreach to 1,000 farmers, with 541 (427 women) reached to date.