Issue of Non-functional Cold Storage in the Region
Farmers in the region are not able to avail the benefits of cold storage, as they are unable to store their produce for a long time. A solar-based cold storage facility with a capacity of five metric tons was constructed three years ago at a cost of 18 lakh rupees in the primary agriculture cooperative society (PACS) in Katkamsandi. However, this cold storage facility has been non-functional for the past three years, leading to farmers being unable to preserve their vegetables and fruits.
Struggles Faced by Farmers due to Non-functional Cold Storage
Due to the closure of the cold storage facility, farmers are unable to store their produce properly, resulting in them selling their crops at lower prices for fear of spoilage. This has caused economic losses to the farmers. Several farmers in the region, including Mukesh Saraiya, Naresh Yadav, Shishupal Singh, Chander Yadav, and Arvind Kumar Yadav, have raised their concerns about the ineffective implementation of the project despite the significant government expenditure.
Appeal to Authorities for Immediate Resolution
The farmers have appealed to the District Collector and the District Cooperative Officer to address the issue and make the cold storage functional for their benefit. The lack of information regarding the construction and operation of the cold storage facility has led to confusion among the farmers, who are now facing financial losses due to the non-functional facility.
Statement by the PACS Chairman and Call for Urgent Action
The PACS Chairman, Rajkishor Singh, mentioned that the cold storage facility was not handed over to the PACS after construction, leading to operational challenges. The theft of solar panels four months ago has further added to the issues faced by the farmers. The Chairman emphasized the need for immediate action to make the cold storage operational to prevent further losses to the farmers in the region.
प्रखंड के किसानों को कोल्ड स्टोरेज का लाभ नहीं मिल रहा है, जिसके कारण उन्हें उत्पाद को लंबे समय तक संरक्षित नहीं रख पा रहे हैं। तीन वर्ष पूर्व बनाया गया सोलर आधारित कोल्ड स्टोरेज अब बंद है, जिससे किसानों को नुकसान हो रहा है। किसानों ने अविलंब ठीक करने की अपील की है, जिससे उन्हें लाभ हो सके।
