How Raheja Solar is Turning Food Waste into Farmer Profit

In a quiet college campus, a seed of an idea took root that would one day combat India’s massive post-harvest food losses. For Varun Raheja, witnessing his friends from farming families being discouraged from continuing their agricultural heritage due to crushing losses and lack of resources was the catalyst. That seed grew into Raheja Solar Food Processing Pvt. Ltd. (RSFP), a social enterprise revolutionising food preservation and rural entrepreneurship across India.

Tackling the Post-Harvest Crisis

India loses nearly ₹90,000 crore worth of fruits and vegetables every year due to post-harvest spoilage. Small and marginal farmers, who invest equal effort into their entire yield, are forced to discard unsold, fresh produce. Inspired by this issue and equipped with insights from a solar energy internship under Padma Shri Janak Palta McGilligan, Raheja developed India's first portable solar dryer. The device dries fruits, vegetables, and spices in three days while retaining up to 80% of nutrients, offering farmers a new lease on profitability.

A Circular Model for Sustainable Impact

Founded in 2018 in Indore, RSFP operates with a mission to empower small farmers through sustainable tools, knowledge-sharing, and robust market access. The company functions on a hub-and-spoke model, co-creating innovations with ground partners who help deploy technology to remote farming communities. A notable breakthrough was their buy-back program, which connects farmers' dried produce to over 250 health-conscious Indian brands, turning waste into wealth.

RSFP's innovation goes beyond hardware. Its IoT-enabled solar dryers offer real-time monitoring and are backed by a digital knowledge library and extensive farmer training. Unlike competitors, RSFP offers decentralised, on-farm food processing and flexible dryer capacities that adapt to farmers’ needs.

From Local Roots to Global Vision

Led by CEO Varun Raheja and Quality Head Babita Raheja, the RSFP team includes alumni from IRMA, former startup founders, and advisors from top FMCG firms and government sectors. The startup has empowered over 60,000 farmers, deployed 8,000+ dryers, and saved more than 12,000 MT of food from waste, significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Through partnerships with Tata Trusts, Reliance Foundation, IDFC Foundation, and others, RSFP continues to scale across India. With a solar dryer market projected to reach USD 5.68 billion by 2035, the company is piloting programs in East Africa and Southeast Asia, while eyeing urban women entrepreneurs and MSMEs as future markets.

Overcoming Barriers to Adoption

Adoption has not come without challenges. In regions like Arunachal Pradesh, early resistance underscored a deep-rooted mistrust in rural communities, often shaped by past experiences with unfulfilled promises. To overcome this, Varun spent two years living and working alongside these communities, demonstrating Raheja Solar’s commitment to long-term impact. The team has also addressed practical hurdles such as climate dependency and high initial costs by developing hybrid solar systems and introducing flexible, pay-per-use models through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).

Reflecting on the journey, Varun advises, “Greatness attracts scale. Start small, stay resilient, and let purpose guide your path.”

Awards, Recognition, and a Vision Forward

RSFP’s innovation has earned accolades, including the Dr. Shirin Gadhia Sustainability Award, DBS Techtonic Zero Waste Award, and recognition from ICAR and MANAGE. It also gained national attention through a feature on Shark Tank India Season 4.

Looking ahead, RSFP aims to deploy over 10,000 dryers, empower 100,000 farmers, and create branded value chains for dried goods. By integrating smart technologies, carbon credits, and impact financing, the company envisions a future where no fruit is wasted, and every harvest helps build dignity and prosperity.