Cold chain project in Shimla to be completed by June
Shimla, December 18
The Himachal Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board (HPSAMB) and Nabard Consultancy Services (NABCONS) have inked an MoU to construct a state-of-the-art integrated cold chain project at Parala and Kharapathar in upper Shimla. The project, worth Rs 60 crore, will have a CA store and a processing plant at Parala and pre-cooling chambers at Kharapathar. Besides, the project also has a provision for refrigerated vans, which will transport the agricultural produce to different markets at controlled temperatures.
Rs 60-cr project
- The project, which is worth Rs 60 crore, will have a CA (controlled atmosphere) store and a processing plant at Parala and pre-cooling chambers at Kharapathar
- The project also has a provision for refrigerated vans, which will transport agricultural produce
“The project will be completed by June 2022 and will have a capacity of 5000 metric ton,” said Marketing Board MD Naresh Thakur. “We will get Rs 10 crore assistance from the Centre and the rest of the cost will be split between the Marketing Board and APMC, Shimla and Kinnaur.”
The facility will give farmers some control on the supply chain, especially at a time when the market is not offering remunerative prices for their produce. They can store at least a part of their produce and release it when the prices are more favourable. “This integrated project will enhance the income of the farmers,” said Nabard CGM Dinesh Kumar Kapila.
For the Marketing Board, it’s the first step into service mode. Till now, it had been functioning in levy mode, charging fee for facilitating trade between farmers, arhtiyas and buyers. — TNS
