The Hindu Business Line : `Cold chain vital for horticulture growth'

New Delhi March 21 Development of cold chain infrastructure is essential to harness the potential of the horticulture sector in both global and domestic markets, according to the Union Minister of Agriculture, Mr Sharad Pawar.

He was speaking at the Cold Chain Summit organised by the CII.

"If India has to become a top exporter and processor of fruits and vegetables, it is essential to have a high quality cold chain system in place."

India has a tremendous marketable surplus for various crops such as mango, banana and potato, he said, adding that servicing the growing organised retail sector through efficient supply chain systems could also boost domestic consumption.

Need for processing

The Minister also stressed on the need for processing in the fisheries and dairy sectors.

He was of the opinion that these sectors should have been incorporated in the discussion held at the summit.

"There is a need to give attention to the fisheries and milk sectors in the same way as the horticulture sector."

He added that development boards for the fisheries and milk sectors already existed, which could become nodal agencies for extending help.

Fisheries sector

The Government would like to spend substantial resources on the fisheries sector to see how the processing system can be introduced here so that its share in the global market improves, the Minister said.

Further, emphasising the need for localised cold chain development, Mr Pawar said that it was necessary to broadbase the resources and ensure that more regions and more fruits and vegetables derive the benefits of the cold chain.

"True cold chains should start in the villages with pre-cooling facility, which would ensure farmers better realisation for their produce. The pre-cooling facilities in rural areas would generate employment."

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