For small farmers and vegetable retailers, keeping fresh produce in good condition for longer can be difficult without affordable storage. Conventional cold storage can help, but its cost and operating requirements often put it out of reach for those handling limited volumes, says Vikash Jha of India-based Rukart. “We saw an opportunity to extend storage life without adding costs that are difficult to recover through produce sales,” he adds.

Jha co-founded RuKart with Sharayu Kulkarni to address this need with Subjee Cooler and ZEN, patented cooling systems that operate without electricity or mechanical refrigeration. The company has developed units for different points in the supply chain, from on-farm storage to retail outlets.

The systems use Enhanced Evaporative Cooling, a principle developed by Jha during his time at IIT Bombay. “Rather than using a compressor and refrigerant, the systems rely on passive cooling processes to maintain temperatures below ambient conditions. Water is required, but around 80% can be collected and reused. A 100-kg model uses approximately 1,050 litres of water annually,” he explains.

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More time to sell
For retailers buying fresh produce daily, the time available to sell stock before its quality deteriorates can affect both waste and margins. The same challenge applies to farmers when harvested produce cannot be sold or collected immediately, says Sharayu Kulkarni. “In both cases, storage that costs less to operate could make it more practical to hold produce for longer rather than sell quickly or risk losing stock.”

RuKart reports that retailers using its technology have increased their income by around ₹500–1,000 per day, while farmers have seen income gains of approximately 30–50%. The company says these income gains are based on independent third-party impact assessments. Across its installations, RuKart has also recorded an average reduction of 17–22% in produce losses, although results vary depending on the crop, local conditions, and how the units are used.

Since October 2019, more than 2,500 Subjee Cooler and ZEN units have been installed across 24 Indian states, according to the company. “Users include Sahaja Organic Farmer Producer Organization and Organic Mandya, alongside individual farmers and retailers,” Kulkarni shares.

The product range includes smaller units for retail outlets and households, portable models for on-farm storage and pre-cooling, and a customised mobile version for transport. For farmers and farmer-producer organisations, the units offer an option for holding produce before collection or dispatch. For retailers, they provide a way to store stock close to the point of sale without relying on a conventional refrigerated room.

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An alternative, not a replacement
RuKart’s technology is not designed to replace conventional cold storage in every application. Exporters, pack-houses and distributors handling large volumes, long-distance shipments or produce requiring tightly controlled temperatures will continue to need infrastructure suited to those requirements. Jha sees the opportunity in smaller-scale operations where conventional refrigeration can be difficult to justify on cost grounds.

“The cooling systems are sold as a one-time investment, with no electricity costs or compressor-related maintenance. Their suitability depends on the temperature and storage duration required for each crop, as well as ambient conditions. It is important to assess the operating temperatures against the needs of the produce being handled,” he says.

RuKart aims to reduce post-harvest losses in dairy, flowers, fruits and vegetables in the developing world to below 5% by 2030.

“For now, we are focused on giving smaller farmers and retailers a more affordable way to store fresh produce for longer. We want to help them reduce losses and get more time to sell their produce,” they conclude.

For more information:
Vikash Jha & Sharayu Kulkarni
RuKart
Tel: +91 90 28 008 261
Email: [email protected]
https://rukart.co