Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurates 5,000- mt cold-storage facilty, fruit-processing unit in Kamrup

The 5,000-meric-tonne cold-storage facility has been constructed by the Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board at a cost of Rs 24.75 crore.

The “chiller” and “freezer” rooms of this facility, that is likely to benefit farmers of Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup, Goalpara, Nalbari and Barpeta districts, have a storage capacity of 550 metric-tonne and 575 metric-tonne respectively.

While the “chiller” rooms would be meant for storage of agricultural items such as potatoes, fruits and other vegetables, the “freezer” room would be of use in storage of milk and milk produces.

The fruit-processing unit, on the other hand, has been built at a cost of Rs 2.89 crore. It is worth mentioning that this fruit-processing unit is the first of its kind in the state.

Speaking at a public meeting correlating held at the Chaygaon College playground, Chief Minister Sarma appealed to the youths of the state to focus on processing and packaging agricultural produces and items.

Claiming that the state's products such as ginger, pepper, lemon, joha rice have great demand in the national and international market, the Chief Minister said the farmers of these items shall be able to reap remunerative values for their products only if their produces are further processed and packaged, which will add to their value-addition.

This, he said, would have a huge positive impact on the ongoing process of strengthening the state’s economy.

He appealed to the Department of Agriculture to take necessary measures in this regard.

Stating that Assam's economy is still highly dependent on agriculture, CM Sarma spoke about the initiatives of the state government towards modernization in the agricultural sector, expanding the market for agricultural produce and attracting the youths towards the sector, among others.
 
He also spoke about the initiatives for rice mills at 220 places and paddy-storage facilities at 110 places in the state.

"The entrepreneurs and industrialists have been able to garner as much as 50 percent subsidies on these rice mills and paddy storage units, he added.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the people to come forward and get involved in agarwood, teak-wood cultivation, etc, and move towards the path of self-reliance and economic independence.

The Assam Chief Minister also touched upon a number of novel initiatives of the government of Assam.

He said the government shall, from this time, ensure the Minimum Support Price for rice would be raised to at least Rs 2,006.

Similarly, 9 lakhs new beneficiaries will be added to the Arunoday scheme from next month, the Chief Minister added.

Sarma added that from coming January, around 52 lakh of the state’s population would be provided ration cards and will then be entitled to free health coverage worth Rs 5 lakhs per year.