Wastage of produce brought by farmers to rythu bazaars in the city may be a thing of the past once cold storages become a reality there.
Under the peri-urban horticulture project of the Union government, cold storages are proposed for eight rythu bazaars in the city. In each of them 250 sft storage with a capacity of 5 tonnes will be set up spending ₹.15 lakh each.
Visakhapatnam is the only the smart city to have been selected in the State for the project from among 100 cities in which the peri-urban horticulture projects are proposed to be developed. Under the project nurseries, protected farming and post-harvest management are proposed to be taken up. However, each city will choose components suitable to it, it was learnt.
According to Assistant Director, Horticulture, K. Sailaja, the rythu bazaars that will be proposed for cold storages during the year are: Gopalapatnam, M V P Colony, Marripalem, Kancharapalem, Peda Waltair, Madhurawada, Gajuwaka and Steel Plant. The cold storages will be powered by solar energy, she says.
Since it is under a government department, the entire cost of ₹.15 lakh will be met under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana of the Union Ministry of Agriculture. The Marketing Department has made the proposal for cold storages at rythu bazaars.
Under the peri-urban horticulture project, Visakhapatnam Port Trust has proposed to take up landscaping and the proposals are awaited.
Ten pack rooms for grading and stocking vegetables, fruits and flowers are proposed and each will be set up with a cost of ₹.4 lakh, 50 % of it will be subsidy for individuals.
The proposals will be sent to the Union Ministry through the Collector.