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Post-harvest losses in India as well as in the state are very
high because of improper storage, handling, transport and
distribution. The state urgently requires efficient post harvest
handling system right from the farm to the retail marketing.
Refrigerated transport system and marketing centre with storage
facilities at controlled and modified atmosphere are also
required. The state government is encouraging private investment
in Cold Chain Infrastructure for preservation of fruits,
vegetables and flowers. In order to prevent wastage of perishable agro products and to
ensure returns to the farmers on a sustained basis, the
Department of Food Processing Industries and Horticulture, Govt.
of West Bengal has been taking necessary steps to create cold
chain infrastructure as well as facilities for grading, sorting,
pre-cooling & packaging. Schemes for quality assurance and
maintenance of codex standards are also being taken up to
promote exports.
There are altogether 379 Cold Storages in the state, out of
which 339 are exclusively for potatoes and 40 are Multipurpose.
A look at some of the Cold Chain Infrastructure Projects in the
state under the initiative of Department of Food Processing
Industries and Horticulture, Govt. of West Bengal:
|
Cold Chain Infrastructure in the state |
Status |
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Pack House with Multipurpose Cold Storage at Malda: This
pack house have the facilities for washing, cleaning,
sorting, grading, waxing, packaging etc.
along with cold storage and refrigerated van for
transporting the materials to the consuming centers. |
Functional. Inaugurated on 17th of October, 2004. |
|
Setting up of Cold Rooms in Regulated markets |
14 cold storages in 10 municipal market complexes have been
constructed with financial assistance from the State Govt.
Work is in progress in other 6 Municipal Market Complexes. |
|
Establishing Cold Storage Facilities at the Airports/Ports |
In order to facilitate export of fresh & processed food
products, the Department has taken steps to set up one
Perishable Cargo Handling Complex at Kolkata International
Airport with financial assistance from APEDA. APEDA has
sanctioned Rs.253 lakh during the year 2002-03 for this
project.
Plans for creating similar facilities at Bagdogra Airport
and Kolkata and Haldia ports are also in the pipeline. |
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Building Multipurpose Cold Storages |
Multipurpose Cold Storages for preservation of fruits,
vegetables, flowers etc. are being set up by Zilla Parishads
of Burdwan and Nadia with the financial assistance from the
Department of Food Processing Industries and Horticulture.
The Department is also encouraging private sector initiative
for setting up multipurpose cold storages in different
locations and has so far approved 23 multipurpose cold
storages in the past two years. |
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Creating facilities for Refrigerated Transport |
The
West Bengal Food Processing & Horticulture Development
Corporation Ltd. is currently operating a refrigerated van
for transporting perishable items like fruits, flowers and
vegetables.
The Department is also encouraging private companies to put
up such vans into operation |
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