CoolCrop Technologies: Cool storage
Year: 2017
Founders: Niraj Marathe, John Kendall Nowocin
Introduction
Founded in 2017 in Vadodara, Gujarat, CoolCrop Technologies is pioneering sustainable cold storage for India’s smallholder farmers. Established by Niraj Marathe and John Kendall Nowocin, the company focuses on solar-powered, modular cold storage units tailored for marginal farmers and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs). With installations across 7 states and a mission to reduce post-harvest losses, CoolCrop is a lifeline for India’s perishable produce growers.
Tackling Agricultural Challenges
Small and marginal farmers often suffer post-harvest losses of up to 25%, especially in fruits and vegetables. With no cold storage access, they’re forced to sell immediately—often at throwaway prices. CoolCrop tackles this gap by enabling farmers to store, monitor, and sell produce strategically, reducing spoilage and improving income through better market timing.
Key Offerings
- Solar-Powered Cold Storage: Modular, energy-efficient systems for on-farm use
- Market Intelligence App: Real-time price forecasts and demand trends across 1,000+ markets
- Forward Linkages: Connects farmers to traders and buyers
- Rental Model: Community-managed units available on shared access
- Custom Configuration: Cold, ripening, or freezing modes as needed
Real Impact
CoolCrop Technologies is quietly revolutionizing the perishable crop value chain. In rural clusters where perishables often rot within hours of harvest, CoolCrop’s cold storage units have reduced wastage from 25% to just 5%. This game-changing drop directly improves profit margins, bargaining power, and market options for farmers.
To date, CoolCrop has installed 48 decentralized cold storage systems across 7 Indian states, positively impacting 9,000+ farmers. These systems are often owned or managed by FPCs, SHGs, or individual entrepreneurs, ensuring localized operations and shared benefit. On average, users report a 35% increase in income, primarily from price arbitrage by delaying sales until demand spikes.
One unit alone saves up to 50 metric tons of produce every month. That’s not just reducing loss—that’s converting waste into wealth.
Success Story
In rural Gujarat, a carrot farmer was losing significant harvest due to spoilage and poor pricing. After gaining access to a CoolCrop cold storage unit, he began storing harvests for 1–2 weeks, aligning with better pricing windows. Using CoolCrop’s app for price forecasts, he timed sales more strategically, doubling his seasonal profits and earning an extra ₹30,000 in one cycle.
Beyond income, this farmer became a local influencer—encouraging others to pool harvests, share storage, and negotiate better prices as a collective. His success demonstrates how decentralized tech and data can spark community-led transformations.
Lessons for Agri-Startups
CoolCrop’s journey holds valuable insights for startups tackling systemic inefficiencies:
- Solve for Waste, Not Just Yield: Post-harvest innovation is just as critical as productivity improvements.
- Decentralization Wins: Small, localized infrastructure often outperforms centralized solutions in rural India.
- Combine Hardware with Data: Storage is only half the battle—CoolCrop’s app ensures farmers know when to sell, not just how to store.
- Climate-Smart by Design: Solar-powered systems support sustainability, affordability, and scalability.
- Partnership-Driven Scale: Collaborating with NGOs, agri co-ops, and impact investors accelerates adoption. CoolCrop shows that small-scale infrastructure can unlock large-scale transformation—especially when paired with the right data, training, and financing model.
Stay Informed with Focus Agritech
CoolCrop Technologies is proving that post-harvest solutions are the next frontier of India’s AgriTech revolution. Their work with marginalized farmers is not just reducing losses, but reshaping income dynamics for communities across India.Explore more such stories, insights, and opportunities in the agritech ecosystem.
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