To provide marketing facility to vegetable farmers, the State Government has a proposal set up a State-level Haat titled ‘Odisha Haat’ in the Capital city.
“Vegetable growers from all districts can come to sell their produce at the proposed Haat to be set up in the Unit-I area. There would be no brokers in the proposed Haat. The farmers, who would come from distant districts, will be provided accommodation for night halts in the city at very cheaper prices,” Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy said in the Assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to a question of BJD MlA Ranendra Pratap Swain and additional questions put by other members, the Minister said the State has now 27 operating cold stores having 1,32,280-tonne storage capacity.
He said nine cold stores are now being constructed by private agencies. The State Government has already approved a proposal for setting up of 24 cold stores during the current fiscal.
About 30 to 40 per cent of fruits and vegetables are not being preserved annually due to lack of cold stores, the Minister said.
He further informed that the State Government has planned to set up 112 new multipurpose cold stores in three years.
The Government is providing 70 per cent subsidies to private parties for construction of cold stores in interior Odisha and 55 per cent subsidies in coast al areas, he said.