Guwahati (Assam) [India]Nov 9 (ANI): Assam got a 5,000-tonne capacity cold storage unit in the Chaigaon area along with a fruit-processing center at the Food Processing Park at Satbari in Kamrup district, the biggest in the region so far.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated both the projects on Tuesday, an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said.
A 5,000 metric ton 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 are likely to benefit the farmers of Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Goalpara, Nalbari and Barpeta districts.
“While the “chiller” rooms will be for storing agricultural commodities such as potatoes, fruits and other vegetables, the “freezer” rooms will be used for storing milk and milk-products, the statement said.
The fruit-processing unit has been set up at a cost of Rs 2.89 crore.
Addressing a public meeting organized at Chaigaon College Sports Ground, Chief Minister Sarma appealed to the youth of the state to pay attention to the processing and packaging of agricultural products and commodities.
Further, stating that the state’s produce like ginger, black pepper, lemon and joha rice is in great demand in the national and international market, the Chief Minister said that the farmers of these commodities should be able to get remunerative prices only when the production be ahead Processed and packaged, which will increase the value addition.
This will have a very positive impact on the ongoing process of strengthening the state’s economy, the statement said.
The state government’s initiative has resulted in annual export of horticulture produce to the tune of Rs 200 crore in the last few years and the Chief Minister expressed confidence that this figure could easily cross the Rs 1,000 crore mark in the coming days. ,
He also appealed to the Agriculture Department to take necessary steps in this regard.
Stating that the state’s economy is still highly dependent on agriculture, the Chief Minister spoke about the initiatives taken to modernize the agriculture sector, expand the market for agricultural produce and attract youth to the sector.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister appealed to the people of the state to come forward and walk on the path of self-reliance and economic independence by joining agarwood, teak-wood cultivation etc. (ANI)
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