Coimbatore: Farmers have demanded that the government should take over the cold storage facilities and run it for farmers in Coimbatore district.
Coimbatore: Farmers have demanded that the government should take over the cold storage facilities and run it for farmers in Coimbatore district.
In the Coimbatore district, agriculture plays an important role in terms of employment and income, second only to industry. In particular, about 1.5 lakh acres of crops including coconut, vegetables and rice is being cultivated in many parts of Coimbatore district including Sulur, Mettupalayam, Thondamuthur, Sirumugai, Pollachi, Kinathukadavu, Annur and Karamadai.
Of these, vegetable farming is the most important. Tomatoes, onions, eggplant, cabbage, cantaloupe, squash, beetroot, beans are the most widely grown. In order to prevent wastage of farmers' produce, 500 MT of cold storage facilities have been set up at Mettupalayam, Udayampalayam in Coimbatore district, 500 MT at Kinathukadavu, 375 MT at Sulur, Karamadai, Thondamuthur, Annur, Pollachi and Senjeri.
However, the farmers complained that the warehouses were not in full use and some of the warehouses were privately owned and the fees for storing vegetables were high.
Tamil Nadu Farmers Association District President Su. Palanisamy said, “In Coimbatore district, cold storages are not fully operational in many places including Annur and Kinathukadavu. High-capacity warehouses are occupied and used only by big business. Refrigerated warehouses are needed for the benefit of small, marginal and medium farmers.
Many more cold storages have to be set up at taluk wise or in important places suitable for farmers in the district. It should not be given to the private sector. Currently, some cold storages are privately owned. Thus, the fees are high and there is no benefit to the farmers. If the cold storages are newly set up to suit the vegetable farmers, the small farmers will also benefit a lot. There is no need to bring vegetables up to several kilometers away and store them in cold storage.
In the Coimbatore district, agriculture plays an important role in terms of employment and income, second only to industry. In particular, about 1.5 lakh acres of crops including coconut, vegetables and rice is being cultivated in many parts of Coimbatore district including Sulur, Mettupalayam, Thondamuthur, Sirumugai, Pollachi, Kinathukadavu, Annur and Karamadai.
Of these, vegetable farming is the most important. Tomatoes, onions, eggplant, cabbage, cantaloupe, squash, beetroot, beans are the most widely grown. In order to prevent wastage of farmers' produce, 500 MT of cold storage facilities have been set up at Mettupalayam, Udayampalayam in Coimbatore district, 500 MT at Kinathukadavu, 375 MT at Sulur, Karamadai, Thondamuthur, Annur, Pollachi and Senjeri.
However, the farmers complained that the warehouses were not in full use and some of the warehouses were privately owned and the fees for storing vegetables were high.
Tamil Nadu Farmers Association District President Su. Palanisamy said, “In Coimbatore district, cold storages are not fully operational in many places including Annur and Kinathukadavu. High-capacity warehouses are occupied and used only by big business. Refrigerated warehouses are needed for the benefit of small, marginal and medium farmers.
Many more cold storages have to be set up at taluk wise or in important places suitable for farmers in the district. It should not be given to the private sector. Currently, some cold storages are privately owned. Thus, the fees are high and there is no benefit to the farmers. If the cold storages are newly set up to suit the vegetable farmers, the small farmers will also benefit a lot. There is no need to bring vegetables up to several kilometers away and store them in cold storage.