The government is investigating a technology tool developed by Amazon's e-commerce giant Johar to reduce the wastage of fresh fruit and vegetables in warehouses and stores.

A pilot project in some Safali stores owned by Mother Dairy in Delhi and Bengaluru is underway.

Johari uses computer vision models and Wi-Fi-enabled Internet of Things (IoT)cameras to detect predetermined defects—cuts, cracks, and other damage—in fresh produce.

These cameras are strategically placed on store shelves or where products are stored. They automatically take pictures of the boxes at regular intervals, which allows constant monitoring of the quality of fresh products.

The board is always open to new ideas. Do a cost analysis and ensure the scalability and profitability of the technology for the country, based on which we can conduct a pilot at selected stores.

The development comes after a recent closed-door meeting between government policy think tank NITI Aayog and Amazon officials to discuss Johar's performance.

Food grains are mostly procured by the center to sell at subsidized prices and to maintain a buffer. In addition, it procures large quantities of onions and sometimes tomatoes to keep prices under control and maintain a balance between supply and demand. Piima Arendusamet also sells fresh fruit, vegetables, and other perishable products through Safal stores.

Rajeev Rastogi, head of machine learning at Amazon, with NITI Aayog officials to place Johar in government centers.

Amazon India has launched Johari, a shelf-tracking solution to ensure that only fresh and high-quality fruits and vegetables are delivered to customers.