Budget 2013: Cold Storage sector not happy

SILIGURI: Despite offering some financial supports the budget proposal could not make the cold storage sector in West Bengal happy.

The state, contributing 30% in total national potato yield, hosts over 570 cold storages. "It is good that the FM has taken an initiative to make Rs 5000 crore available to NABARD to finance construction of warehouses, godowns, silos and cold storage units designed to store agricultural produce, both in the public and the private sectors this year. But the scheme is already there. It is an extension only not something new," said Mr. Patit Paban De, Vice President(north), Federation of Cold Storage Associations of India.

But, "the FM remained silent on our other major problem. A crisis that can invite a severe adverse effect on the whole potato scenario in the entire eastern India or the whole country," he added.

According to Mr. De, with around 100 lakh Metric ton production, and 60 lakh ton storage facility in 570 cold storages including 422 dedicated to potato, the demand vs supply of storage infrastructure is at saturation level in west Bengal leaving not much leg room.

"Above this, West Bengal and Tripura, these two states do regulate our storage rent which is not there in any other state. We have requested these states as well as center to take some measure to withdraw the control to make our projects viable. But that remained unheard," said Mr. De.

The demand of some benefits for the revival or upgradation of old cold storages has also remained unheard by the FM- claimed the storage owners. "At least 100 cold storages in the state are already in too bad shape financially.

Government must come out some schemes for their revival. Otherwise, the situation may invite a chaos in potato arena of Eastern India or whole country," said Mr. De.