Is Cold Storage Facility in Tripura Ready for Projected Potato Boom?
Agartala Nov 29: The Tripura government has announced ambitious plans to achieve self-sufficiency in potato production by 2029-30, spurred by the success of Automatic Ridge Cultivation (ARC) technology.
State Agriculture and and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced this today during a field visit at Kanchanpur in North Tripura.
While joining the plantation activities at Subhash Nagar and Dainchara Village Council’s Karnajoy Para, he said, “This method is not just technology; it is a new story of courage for potato farmers”.
Nath highlighted the staggering potential of ARC technology. He noted that traditional yields of 2,500–3,000 kg per kani could leap to between 9,000 and 10,000 kg under the new method.
Currently, approximately 23,700 farmers cultivate potatoes across 47,341 kanis of land in the state.
If the state’s adoption drive is successful, it will be necessary to harness post-harvest management like cold storage facility in Tripura to handle spur in production, agri-experts opined.
Cold Storage Facility in Tripura
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, as of May 31, 2024, Tripura currently possesses a total cold storage capacity of 46,354 Metric Tonnes (MT, or 46,354,000 kg) spread across 14 functional units.
The current capacity, while substantial for past production levels, raises questions about its adequacy for a fourfold increase in potato yields.
If production scales dramatically, the state would require a proportional increase in storage to prevent spoilage and ensure farmers can store their harvests until market prices are favorable.
The shift from a potato-deficit state to a potential powerhouse will require a rapid modernization and expansion of storage capabilities.
Without adequate cold chain infrastructure and efficient market linkages to handle quadruple the usual harvest, the state risks significant post-harvest losses, potentially undermining the very prosperity the Minister hopes to bring to farmers.
While the focus is currently on planting technology, the realization of the 2029-30 self-sufficiency goal will likely hinge as much on warehouse capacity as it does on field yields.
The government’s continued focus on schemes like MIDH, PMKSY, and AIF for infrastructure development will be crucial in bolstering this vital post-harvest segment.
