Ranchi: Agriculture minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey on Monday inaugurated a state-of-the-art cold storage facility at Budhakhukhra village in Ranchi’s Mandar block. Built over a two-acre plot, the facility has a capacity of 5,000-metric-tonnes and was built at a cost of Rs 15.01 crore.“The cold storage initiative was originally launched in 2018 but hit severe roadblocks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Tirkey said. She said she prioritised the project after assuming office in 2024 and allocated Rs 6 crore to integrate modern technology.The project, which has come up in Tirkey’s home turf, is expected to help local farmers preserve their yields, drastically cut post-harvest losses, and fetch superior market prices.It uses Freon gas-based refrigeration technology within a multi-chamber design. To cater specifically to perishable produce, two dedicated chambers, each with a capacity of 125 metric tonnes, have been engineered for the safe preservation of fruits and green vegetables.Tirkey also commissioned an integrated 100 kW solar power plant at the site to ensure uninterrupted operations.“Our goal is to ensure farmers derive real benefits from this infrastructure, enabling them to safeguard produce while boosting overall income,” Tirkey said.Alongside the plant inauguration, assets worth Rs 1.04 crore were distributed to cooperative societies and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) linked with VEGFED to streamline transportation and marketing. The handover included nine pickup vehicles, two mini-trucks, and two mobile vending carts—a move designed to connect farm gates directly to markets and curtail reliance on middlemen.
