In Odisha state, Khordha and Cuttack districts have the highest concentration of cold storages. As many as 13 districts in the state do not have cold storage facilities. This is currently resulting in the surplus vegetables, fruits and other perishable agrarian produce going into waste. The cold storages are currently in operation in 17 districts only, while the remaining 13 districts have no such facility for farmers.
The districts which do not have cold storage infrastructure are Gajapati, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Kalahandi, Boudh, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Malkangiri, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Subarnapur, Nayagarh and Bargarh, said officials of agriculture and farmers’ empowerment department.
Incidentally, some of the districts with no cold storage are among the leading producers of perishable commodities. The failure of the State Potato Mission launched amid much fanfare in 2015 bears testimony to the fact that surplus produce goes down the drain, affecting the farmers badly.
The government had admitted the failure of the potato mission for the absence of the cold storage facility to store the produce. The State continues to be heavily dependent on neighboring West Bengal to meet the State’s demand.
Source: thestatesman.com
