KOKRAJHAR, Sept 12 � Hagrama Mohilary, the chief of BTC, inaugurated a cold storage today, constructed at a cost of Rs 5 crore at Patgaon in Kokrajhar district under BTC package.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Mohilary said that this cold storage having a capacity of 5000 matric tonne was opened with facilities of scanning and grading, auction yard, weighing bridge, accommodation facilities for operating staff among others.
He also revealed that the agriculture department of BTC received the sanction from non-lapsable central pool resources for two such cold storages, one in Patgaon under Kokrajhar district and another in Routa under Udalguri district. The cold storage at Patgaon was started in May 2009, and is now completed and made operational for which the trial run will be carried out by the agricultural department of BTC, he said, adding that the BTC intended to lease out the cold storage for commercial use and profit making, to a prospective NGO to run the cold storage which would enable general farmers of the district to get direct benefit from the plant. It was expected that BTC would earn revenue from the cold storage plant once it goes commercial, he said.
Attending the programme, Promila Rani Brahma, State Agriculture minister said that this cold storage would fulfil a genuine demand of poor farmers and agriculturists in the area, and at the same time can be a boost to the local market. She further expressed that this cold storage has become an asset of the locality, and it is the responsibility of one to all to look after and help it remain operational.
At the same time, she informed that there will be eight cold storages to be set up in the State by the Department of Agriculture, and two of them are to be in BTC area with the capacity of 1000 MT each. She also emphasised farming of local seeds and crop varieties, desisting from hybrid varieties of vegetables.
Mitharam Basumatary, EM, Agriculture, in his speech said that the BTC authority is also moving ahead for construction of four cold storages in BTC area soon through central assistance. He also expressed that such projects would certainly provide income generation opportunities for local youth and job aspirants.
