The CaaS model enables smallholder farmers and cooperatives to access solar-powered cold storage infrastructure without the burden of high initial investments and ownership. A technology provider (CoolCrop) installs, operates and maintains the cold storage units at or near the farmgate, and farmers or cooperatives pay a service fee to use the facility. This fee can be based on the quantity of produce stored, such as by weight or crate, or defined as a flat rate and is based on the total costs of installing, operating, maintaining, and financing the equipment. The viability of the intervention depends largely on selecting an appropriate pricing strategy, which covers operational costs while remaining affordable to formers, and furthermore the financial structure of the initial investment. Service providers earn revenue through storage and transportation fees, and potentially through net metering of surplus solar energy. Furthermore, the model promotes the addition of value-added services at the farmgate through the inclusion of services conventionally performed at packhouses. Solar-powered machinery for sorting and grading can be installed alongside the cold storages, creating an additional income stream for the service model. Farmers and cooperatives benefit from the reduction of post-harvest losses, preservation of quality and shelf life and the possibility to delay sales beyond market gluts, leading to improved income. 

In Himachal Pradesh, poor accessibility and weak road infrastructure expose storage providers to high operational costs. The management and maintenance of cold storage units remains the greatest hurdle to achieving economic sustainability. To address these challenges, the model includes a long-term strategy of distributing cold storage units clustered geographically. However, this becomes economically viable only after the model is scaled up and widely disseminated, requiring substantial upfront capital or external subsidies in the early phase.

Your Virtual Cold Chain Assistant (YVCCA) is an app that supports improved cold storage use, farmer decision-making, and planning for scaling. It integrates three functions. First, it enables farm produce management and predicts the quality and shelf life of apples based on a quality assessment at harvest and real-time data on temperature and humidity in the cold storage units. Second, it identifies underserved areas without access to cold storages but with large potential for adoption, by analysing production data, satellite imagery, and socio-economic indicators through. This supports planning and targeted expansion of infrastructure. Third, it offers data-informed market linkage advice by combining data on weather, market volume and
location, satellite images, fresh-produce yields, hygrothermal cold-storage sensors,
forecasted remaining shelf life of produce, and real-time market prices. Together, these functions improve both farmer income and the operational efficiency of cold storage services.

Cold storages are not new to Indian agriculture, with more than 15,000 storages with a capacity of around 1,000 MT located throughout the country. However, access to these remains quite limited for smallholders in remote areas. Closing this gap requires solutions which are adequate for such remote contexts, and the solar-powered cold storages promoted by GIC are a feasible option.

The promoted systems are ideal, as the smaller 5 to 30 MT units allow for decentralised storage at the farm gate. The system allows for control of temperature and humidity according to the specific needs of the chosen produce, enabling farmers to maximise the shelf life of their crops. In addition to the benefits and income from storage, the solution allows for net metering of surplus energy, providing additional income and enhancing the system’s feasibility.

To enhance the feasibility of the service model, two value-added services were integrated with the solar-powered cold storages: solar-powered sorting and grading operations, and the mobile application "Your Virtual Cold Chain Assistant" (YVCCA). Solar-powered machinery for sorting and grading was installed at the farm gate, giving farmers access to reliable information on the quality of their produce to strengthen their position in price negotiations. YVCCA supports improved cold storage use by predicting the shelf life of apples based on quality assessments at harvest and monitoring temperature and humidity inside the storage units, which helps farmers optimize storage duration and market timing.

Randilen Wildlife Management Area (WMA) generates tourism income that directly supports community development, fostering sustainable growth and improving local livelihoods. Revenue from tourism activities, such as park entry fees, guided tours, and eco-lodges, is reinvested in key sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Additionally, these funds empower local communities by creating jobs, enhancing conservation efforts, and supporting small businesses. The income also contributes to cultural preservation and environmental sustainability, ensuring long-term economic stability while promoting responsible tourism practices that benefit both people and wildlife.