The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced that work on 14 cold storage facilities in the country is underway and will soon be completed and activated.
The ministry revealed this in a statement on Friday, January 3, stating that a meeting was held to discuss the activation of these unfinished cold storage facilities in 12 provinces.
According to the statement, the meeting focused on the completion and activation of the 14 cold storage facilities, available resources, and strategies for better utilization of these facilities. However, the ministry did not provide specific details regarding which provinces the cold storage units will be operational in.
Experts believe that establishing cold storage facilities in the provinces where agriculture and horticulture are the primary livelihoods of the population will have a significant impact on economic growth and agricultural development. In other areas, where agricultural products are mainly imported, the construction of cold storage facilities could increase imports by allowing more products to be stored and sold over a longer period of time. Additionally, the creation of cold storage facilities can generate new job opportunities and stimulate investments.
However, the lack of proper storage mechanisms like cold storage facilities and the absence of attention to this critical aspect have led to fluctuating prices for agricultural products in the country, with no stable pricing system in place. This instability in pricing often results in significant losses for farmers, who are unable to sell their produce at a fair price due to spoilage or lack of proper storage, further exacerbating the struggles of the agricultural sector.
In light of these challenges, it is essential for the authorities and private sector to focus on improving the storage infrastructure to support the agricultural economy. The development of cold storage units could play a pivotal role in reducing post-harvest losses, stabilizing prices, and ultimately improving the livelihoods of farmers, who are among the most vulnerable populations in the country.
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