Odisha Cabinet Approves Rs 252 Crore Scheme to Bolster Cold Storage Infrastructure

Bhubaneswar: To enhance agricultural productivity and reduce post-harvest losses, the Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday approved the “Financial Assistance to Cold Storages” scheme. The initiative aims to strengthen cold storage facilities across the state by providing financial support to private entrepreneurs and reviving defunct units.

The scheme, set to be implemented over a five-year period from 2025-26 to 2029-30, comes with an estimated budget of ₹252 crore. It seeks to establish at least one cold storage unit in each of the 58 sub-divisions, focusing on uncovered but economically viable locations.

Strategic Objectives
The scheme is designed to address critical challenges in Odisha’s post-harvest supply chain, aiming to:

• Reduce post-harvest losses and minimize distress sales.
• Promote value addition and processing of agriculture, horticulture, and allied sector commodities.
• Enhance farmers’ income by ensuring better market opportunities.

Implementation and Support
The scheme will provide subsidies for storage and transport through the Post-Harvest Management (PHM) scheme under the Directorate of Horticulture. Financial assistance will be extended for:

1. Setting up new cold storage units.
2. Reviving stressed, sick, or defunct cold storage facilities.

Preference will be given to applicants seeking the least financial assistance in cases where multiple applications are received for a single block.

Cold storage units will be strategically linked to Agriculture Production Clusters (APCs) in their catchment areas to optimize their utility and efficiency.

This initiative is expected to bolster Odisha’s agricultural sector by creating a robust storage infrastructure, reducing wastage, and supporting farmers in realizing fair prices for their produce.