Cold storage facilities in the Indore and Ujjain region are experiencing a significant surge in demand for storage space, leading the Cold Chain Association of Indore to implement an increase in storage charges for the new season. This development, effective from February to October 2025, sees charges rise by approximately 2 per cent. The driving force behind this increased demand is reported to be a higher need for storing various agricultural products, including vegetables, jiggery, chickpeas, and spices.
The current season has seen a remarkable occupancy rate of around 90 per cent across cold chains in the Indore and Ujjain region. This high level of occupancy is described as “very good for the industry” by Hasmukh Gandhi, President of the Cold Chain Association of Indore. He attributes this robust occupancy directly to the increased demand for storage, particularly highlighting vegetables like potato and other grains. A major factor contributing to this heightened demand, according to the association, is the significantly increased production of potatoes this season in key growing states such as Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
The high demand and increased production are also having a knock-on effect on the usual rhythm of operations. The sources indicate a notable delay expected in the clearance of vegetables that are currently stocked in storage. Typically, the clearance period for stored produce commences around the last week of May. However, for this season, traders and farmers are anticipated to postpone their clearance activities, with the process now expected to start from June. This delay suggests that produce is being held in storage for a longer duration, likely due to the larger volumes available from the increased production and the strategic decisions of traders and farmers in response to market conditions, although the exact reasons for the delayed clearance are not detailed beyond the context of higher production and demand.
In response to the growing demand and high occupancy, the Cold Chain Association of Indore has revised its storage charges upwards. The association had maintained unchanged storage charges during the previous season. However, for the upcoming February to October 2025 period, specific new rates have been set for key vegetables.
- For potato, the revised storage charge is Rs 240 per quintal.
- For beetroot, the new price stands at Rs 265 per quintal.
- For carrot, the charge has been set at Rs 290 per quintal for the same season.
These specific price adjustments reflect the updated cost structure for storing these essential crops. Potatoes, carrots, and beetroots are identified as the principal vegetables typically stored in cold chains. Among these, potatoes are noted to occupy a substantial amount of space within the cold storage facilities in the Indore region.
The process of storing winter vegetables in cold chains generally begins in the middle of January, coinciding with the fresh harvest, and continues through until March. The current scenario, with high occupancy and delayed clearance, suggests that facilities filled during this typical storage commencement period in early 2025 are now facing prolonged utilisation. The 2 per cent increase in charges across the board, along with the specific rates for key vegetables, represents the industry’s adjustment to the current market dynamics driven by stronger demand and higher volumes of produce requiring climate-controlled storage. This situation underscores the critical role cold chains play in managing agricultural output and responding to fluctuations in production and market timing for regional farmers and traders.
