Due to the significant increase in potato production in North Bengal, the state government has initiated plans to establish seven additional cold storage facilities to meet the growing demand for storage capacity in the region.
The Agricultural Marketing department has secured approval from the Fire and Emergency Services department to construct warehouses with an increased height of 58 feet to accommodate the rising potato cultivation in the area.
The inadequacy of existing storage facilities in North Bengal prompted the decision to enhance storage capacity. Entrepreneurs highlighted the benefits of taller godowns, enabling farmers to store larger quantities while allowing entrepreneurs to maximize rental income. Following discussions with the state Fire and Emergency Services department, permission was granted to raise the height of the godowns to 58 feet, facilitating the storage of the upcoming potato harvest expected in January-February next year.
Under the amended National Building Act 2017, the maximum height for storage godowns is set at 49 feet. Given this limitation, the authorities collaborated at the chief secretary level to secure approval for the construction of taller storage facilities, overcoming the constraints of existing structures.
Potatoes from North Bengal play a crucial role in supplying neighboring states such as Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipur. The expansion of storage capacity is expected to support not only local demand but also enhance export opportunities for these regions.
In the past, insufficient storage options led to farmers in North Bengal facing challenges, including selling their produce at low prices. This situation sometimes resulted in protests by farmers demanding fair prices. The introduction of new storage facilities is anticipated to mitigate such issues to a significant extent, offering improved market conditions for potato farmers in the region.
Currently, there are a total of 472 godowns for potato storage across the state, with approximately 410 in operation, indicating the pressing need for additional storage infrastructure to support the flourishing potato industry in North Bengal.
