In the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, a significant increase in potato prices has led to a slowdown in offloading activities from cold storages. This rise in prices, attributed to a shortage in the local market, has resulted in farmers holding back their produce. Notably, potatoes, carrots, and beetroot occupy a substantial 80-90% of the space in cold chains in the Indore region.
The president of the Cold Chain Association of Indore, Hasmukh Gandhi, highlighted the deceleration in offloading, emphasizing that farmers are withholding their produce due to favorable market prices across most vegetables. With potatoes being the predominant crop stored in cold chains, the offloading process has been notably sluggish.
Traders have reported potato prices at Rs 22 per kg. The cold chain season typically spans from February to October. This season, potato prices have been favorable, averaging around Rs 20-22 per kg, leading to a cautious approach by farmers in unloading their stocks.
Madhya Pradesh boasts around 300 cold storages, with over 110 located in the Indore and surrounding areas. The region anticipates the establishment of 8-10 new cold chains in the Indore district by the following year, reflecting the growing demand for storing potatoes, beetroots, carrots, and spices among farmers and traders.
The surge in demand has prompted the expansion of cold chain facilities, with most products sourced from within a 20-30 km radius of Indore. The industry foresees a positive trend in cold chain development, driven by the need to store a variety of agricultural commodities efficiently.
