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Panel moots five cold storage units

MADURAI: The expert committee constituted by the State Government to rejuvenate agriculture sector has recommended establishment of a massive cold chain facility in various districts for the benefit of farmers involved in agriculture and horticulture.

For southern districts, the panel felt that at least five cold storage facilities must be created at Theni, Dindigul, Oddanchathiram, Vilathikulam and Periyakulam.

S. Kannaiyan, committee chairman and former Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, told The Hindu on Sunday that the panel members were of the view that a Government- established cold chain network would be of great help to farmers in getting a better price for their produce.

The expert committee on ‘developing mechanism for effective technology transfer’ had completed its visit to southern districts, meeting farmers and agriculture scientists at various places, including Madurai where the meeting was held at the Agricultural College and Research Institute recently.

“Our final report, which will be submitted to the Government in December, will list the exact locations where cold storage facility must be increased. That will avoid middlemen and wastage,” Dr. Kannaiyan said. The committee heard the requirements of farmers engaged in banana, tomato, mango and sapota cultivation.

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