Fruit preservation in cold storage stressed

Experts have underscored the preservation of fruits and vegetables in cold storage to lessen at least fifty percent unexpected losses.

They said every year the farmers in general incurred huge financial loss as they cannot preserve fruits and vegetables in the region due to lack of proper facilities.

The experts came up with the observation while visiting a newly established mini-cold storage at Shibpur Hat under Puthiya Upazila in the district on Wednesday afternoon.

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) established the four-tonne capacity cold storage for preserving fruits and vegetables under its project titled “Agriculture Development of Rajshahi Division through Expansion of Modern Technology”.

Senior Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Mesbahul Islam visited the cold storage to see for its activities. DAE Director General Muhammad Asadullah, Additional Director Sirajul Islam, Deputy Director Abdul Awal and Project Director Dr SM Hasanuzzaman were present on the occasion.

In his remarks, Mesbahul Islam said Bangladesh is now a role model in fruits and vegetables production before the world.

The farmers will be benefited if they can get scopes of preserving fruits and vegetables. He clarified that preservation time of fruits and vegetables can be enhanced by one month through controlling only the temperature.

“We have started setting up mini cold storage on pilot basis and we can enhance the number in future after assessing results of those,” he added.

In addition to the Shibpur Hat cold storage, two other cold storages are being established at Natore Sadar Upazila and at Shibganj Upazila in Chapainawabganj district on pilot basis for the first time in the region.

The cold storages will help the farmers protect their mangoes and other perishable goods from being wasted for around one month.

Project Director Dr Hasanuzzaman told the visiting team that construction works of two other storages are expected to be completed within the shortest possible time.

He said the five-year project is being implemented in 67 upazilas of all eight districts in the division at a cost of around Taka 147.03 crore since January, 2020.

Upon successful implementation by December, 2024, the project will help increase cropping intensity to 242 percent from 237 percent through expansion of modern agriculture technologies.

Besides, the project is intended to enhance production of paddy, pulse and oilseed to 12 percent each, wheat and maize to 10 percent each, spice to 13 percent, vegetables to 15 percent and fruits to 14 percent.

Around 86,430 farmers and 7350 others will be imparted agriculture technology training aimed at successful expansion of modern tech in the agriculture sector in the division.

Besides, 93,780 people, including 86,430 farmers will be brought under a two-day need-based training course in different batches as 25,820 demonstrations of new technologies and crop varieties and plants will be made under the project.