In a significant development for the agricultural sector, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned the establishment of a 2,240 MT capacity cold storage unit for the Belagavi Agricultural Produce Market at the cost of ₹ 9.025 crore.
The initiative fall under the NABARD Rural Infrastructure Development Fund(RIDF) 2024- 2025, as announced by Belagavi MP, Shri Jagadish Shettar.
The main aim of the project is to enhance the facility of storage, minimize post harvest losses and ensure better price realization for the farmers to strengthen the agricultural value chain in the region.
Shri Shettar claimed that the challenges that are faced by the farmers includes, 25-30 % of agricultural and horticultural production is lost because of the lack of proper cold storage facilities.
This loss mainly affects the perishable items which forces the farmers to sell their products at a very low price ,with a minimum profit .
Addressing the issues faced by the farmers, the facility of new cold storage capacity is expected ,which enable the farmers to store crops such as potatoes, chillies, vegetables, pulses and fruits fir a extended durations.
This facility will also help the farmers to play a vital role to maintain the quality ,freshness and nutritional value of agricultural production to reduce the post -harvesting losses and benefiting the agricultural community economically and operationally to enhance market opportunities.
During a recent Bankers District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) meeting ,Shettar credited this Development to this efforts where he urged NABARD officials to give importance to a cold storage facility for Belagavi.
In a press release, Shri Jagadish Shettar stated, “The cold storage unit will be a game changer for farmers in the district and the nearby areas, ensuring their produce remains fresh while reducing wastage and increasing profitability.”