The state agriculture department in West Bengal is developing cold storage infrastructure to preserve onion and garlic harvests and manage seasonal price fluctuations. The initiative, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and overseen by the agricultural marketing department, marks the first time the state has constructed dedicated cold storage facilities for these crops.
Becharam Manna, Minister in charge of agricultural marketing, said the initiative aims to make the state self-sufficient in onion and garlic production while stabilising market prices. "We will no longer have to depend on Maharashtra, Nashik, and other onion-producing states. We are very thankful to the CM for ensuring that the first cold storage facility, with a storage capacity of 25 metric tonnes for onions and garlic, is coming up in Hooghly district," he said.
A total of US$1.16 million (Rs 9.65 crore) has been allocated to construct 750 cold storages across 10 onion-producing districts. Hooghly district will host 175 of these units. The agriculture department has received 337 applications from onion and garlic growers seeking to participate in the scheme. Final beneficiaries will be selected through a lottery system after verification, and selected farmers will be eligible for subsidies.
Manna added that the agriculture department will support growers in increasing onion and garlic yields using advanced cultivation methods. The new cold storage network is intended to allow surplus production to be stored for longer periods, maintaining a stable supply for both wholesale and retail markets.
"This initiative will end our dependence on other states for onions and garlic, make West Bengal self-sufficient in production, and ensure that farmers enjoy steady sales and profits throughout the year," Manna said.
Source: The Statesman
