Cold Storage Innovation Key to Preventing Crop Loss: Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh
Lucknow — To ensure that crops do not perish from the farm to the market, Uttar Pradesh’s Minister for Horticulture, Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Foreign Trade and Export, Dinesh Pratap Singh, emphasized the critical role of cold storage infrastructure. Speaking at a workshop titled “Empowerment and Modernization of Cold Storage” at Fairfield by Marriott, Lucknow, the minister inaugurated the event, underscoring the urgent need for innovation and modernization in traditional cold storage systems.
Currently, Uttar Pradesh has around 2,300 cold storages, primarily used for storing potatoes. While the state does not face a shortage of potato storage, Singh stressed the importance of expanding facilities to store other perishables like mangoes, bananas, and vegetables, ensuring farmers’ produce reaches markets without spoilage.
He called on stakeholders to embrace technological exchange from other states and adopt innovative storage practices to enhance efficiency and longevity. Highlighting government support, Singh announced that the horticulture department offers up to 35% subsidy for setting up cold storage units. “We invite interested individuals to come forward with proposals. The government is ready to provide all possible assistance,” he added.
The minister also lauded the efforts of the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) and their initiative Sankalp aimed at transforming cold storage units into energy-efficient, multi-product, and climate-resilient facilities. This shift, he noted, could reduce operational costs, minimize food wastage, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
“This bold and forward-thinking initiative will promote sustainable agriculture and benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment alike,” Singh remarked.
Senior officials including Director of Horticulture and Food Processing B.P. Ram, Deputy Director K.K. Neeraj, and representatives from AEEE, along with several cold storage owners, participated in the workshop.
The session marked a significant step toward developing a sustainable agri-supply chain in Uttar Pradesh, enabling a future where produce is preserved efficiently and farmers earn better returns.
