masterplan for cold storage requirements in kerala - Agmarknet

land cost are also factors affecting the slow growth of the
industry.
4. Production of fruits and vegetables in the state is very poor
and the arrivals in the markets are based and on the demand.
The generally cold stored items like potato, apples, oranges,
chilly etc are not cultivated in the state.
5. There is no concession for cold storage industry in the state.
Considering the fact that almost 60% of the operating expense
for a cold storage is electricity bill, some sort of concession to
the electricity tariff for horticultural based cold storages may
be provided by the state govt. as done by the neighbouring
states.
6. The traders/consumers are not aware about the benefit of cold
storages in preserving perishables.
7. Consumers prefer to buy fresh items to cold stored one. Since
cold stored items are also costlier, as compared to the outside
items, only a small percentage of consumers prefer to buy
such items.
Even though there is not much production of fruits and
vegetables in the state, considering the huge arrival of vegetables and
fruits in the markets across the states, there is a need to construct cold
storages in the main cities to take care of the demand, fluctuation in
price, spoilage etc.
The storage and post storage life of most of the fresh
fruits and vegetables are short. Storage of such items is risky and
needs more care and attention. Cold chain system is the best way to
handle such highly perishable items. However an average consumer is
more concerned about the cost of the items than the quality. A cold
stored item will definitely costlier than the outside item but the quality
will be superior. Cold stored items are to be sold through airconditioned
super bazaars as the post storage life of most of these
items is very short. Even if 10% of the consumers are going for the
cold storage items, there is a need to construct cold storages in major
cities in Kerala. Cold storages are required for items like potato,
apples, oranges, tamarind, chilly etc. having long cold storage life.
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