|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
KAPPEC to float tenders for two cold storages at Hubli and Bagalkot
|
|
Saturday, 04 September, 2010, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Nandita Vijay, Bangalore
|
Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing & Export Corporation Limited has planned to set up two more cold storage units in Hubli and Bagalkot. In this regard, the Corporation has floated tenders and are looking for responses from technically competent companies to set up the same in north Karnataka.
At Amargol in Hubli, KAPPEC is looking to construct a pack house with grading cooling line, pre-cooling units, high refrigerated cold storage, reefer vans, commercial cold rooms of 2,000 tonnes, apart from ripening chambers, administrative block, lab and all other allied equipment at the Agricultural Produce Marketing Corporation in Hubli.
A similar infrastructure with a capacity of 1,500 tonnes for pomegranate aril packaging units is being envisaged at Bagalkot.
According to the Karnataka government, the state had 161 cold storage units and more than 150 warehouses, therefore, had the capacity for processing agri produce. The exports of agri produce accounted for Rs 956 crore. The key products were coffee, cashew, cashew kernel, processed foods, spices and marine produce.
Some of the lacunae in the sector are that most cold storages in the state are conventional and are not equipped to handle multiple products at a time. The infrastructure for sorting and grading at farm level was limited and the lack of roads and constant power failure added to the woes of the cold chain centres.
Early this year, in an interaction with F&B News, KJ Devandrappa, managing director, KAPPEC, had stated that Belgaum Integrated cold storage unit for fruits and vegetables was set up by the Belgaum Agro Pvt. Ltd. The company had come forward and requested for 30 % equity by KAPPEC which would chip in Rs 80 lakh. The second was the mango-tomato processing unit under the aegis of the Jai Hindustan Agro Pvt. Ltd in Kolar district.
F&B had earlier reported that KAPEEC had also commissioned the public-private partnership effort of the Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) unit at Kustagi in Koppal district, for export of lady’s finger, strawberry, capsicum, mango, papaya, green peas and pomegranate arils which were stored under 22 degree celsius for supplies to the Europe markets. This also covered an integrated cold storage for pomegranate and grapes at Bagalkot.
Viewing the promising prospects in Karnataka, experts opined that establishment of pack houses for pomegranates, grapes, vegetables was the need of the hour. Efforts to set up banana ripening chambers, was also indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|