Odisha Cabinet approves new scheme to enhance cold storage facilities

Bhubaneswar, Jan 22: The Odisha Cabinet today approved a new initiative designed to enhance cold storage facilities and infrastructure throughout the state by offering financial support. This scheme aims to establish at least one cold storage unit in each of the 58 sub-divisions, encouraging private entrepreneurs to set up facilities in economically viable areas that currently lack cold storage.

Titled "Financial Assistance to Cold Storages," the initiative focuses on increasing farmers' incomes by minimizing post-harvest losses, preventing distress sales, and promoting value addition and processing of agricultural, horticultural, and related commodities. The new cold storage units will be strategically linked to Agriculture Production Clusters (APCs) in their respective catchment areas.

Under this scheme, subsidies for storage and transportation will be provided through the Post-Harvest Management (PHM) scheme managed by the Directorate of Horticulture. Assistance will be available for both the establishment of new cold storage units and the revival of existing stressed or defunct ones.

If multiple applications are submitted for cold storage units within the same block, priority will be given to those requesting the least amount of financial assistance from the government. The implementation of this scheme is planned over five years, from 2025-26 to 2029-30, with a projected budget of ₹252 crore. The initiative aims to tackle significant challenges in the post-harvest supply chain, ensuring better market access for farmers.