Construction of cold storage facility in limbo

RAJBIRAJ (SAPTARI), AUGUST 25 :  The most awaited dream project of the farmers, the construction of a cold storage facility, is in limbo in Saptari district. The lack of a cold storage facility in the area means that local produce, like fruits and vegetables, is being damaged, resulting in losses for the farmers.

Although the construction of the cold storage began in 2075 BS at Deuri in Rajbiraj Municipality-15, the work has been stalled since 2078 BS. The cold storage facility has a capacity of 3,000 metric tons, and the total cost of the project is Rs 280 million.

Ramesh Prasad Gupta, manager of the District Cooperative Society Saptari, informed that due to a lack of budget, the construction work has stopped midway. He mentioned that Rs 6.36 million was allocated for the construction of the cold storage in the fiscal year 2076/77 BS, but the remaining amount has not yet been allocated by the federal government.
The federal government still needs to provide Rs 100.75 million for the project, leading to its stalling.

Manager Gupta stated that he has repeatedly requested the Ministry of Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation to provide the additional budget. Along with this project, the construction of similar cold storage facilities was started simultaneously in Nawalparasi and Saptari.

According to him, the cold storage facility in Nawalparasi has already been constructed and is operational. The construction of the cold storage was started on one and a half acres of land, with 60% of the funding provided by the federal government, 20% by associations, and 20% by local and state governments.

Local products, including bananas, mangoes, potatoes, onions, and garlic, are going to waste due to the lack of a cold storage facility. Farmers have been unable to sell their produce outside their district.

"We are compelled to sell our produce at lower prices due to the lack of cold storage in our area. The produce is damaged as the farmers cannot sell it in time," Gupta lamented. He also noted that farmers have to buy fruits and vegetables at higher prices during the off-season.

According to Gupta, the construction of the cold storage was initiated with the plan of storing the fruits and vegetables produced by local farmers through cooperatives.
He mentioned that although the Madhes Province Government has allocated Rs 80 million for the construction of the Cooperative Cold Storage in the current fiscal year 2024/25, they have not yet received the funds.