Manipur government will set up six cold storages at the required locations in six districts across the State. To implement the project, the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department has a fund of Rs 6 crore, said Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar on Tuesday.
Minister Shyamkumar was speaking at the pineapple suckers distribution event at Angtha under Andro Assembly Constituency on Tuesday. The suckers were distributed to the pineapple farmers of the area. The department officials also attended the distribution function.
Minister Shyamkumar also informed that the officials of the department have been visiting the beneficiaries on the spot to check the ground reality and provide benefits directly to the beneficiaries under various schemes of the department under the directive of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
He further said the under-construction cold storage at Yairipok Thambalnu Market will be completed in the next two months and said the department is focusing on providing benefits under various schemes to the farmers who really require help from the department.
Shyamkumar also said, earlier, suckers imported from Australia were distributed to the pineapple farmers, which failed due to incompatibility with the soil condition of the State. He said, farmers should focus on repaying loans on time apart from applying for various schemes.
Minister Shyamkumar, who was accompanied by the top officials of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department, Forest Department, Directorate of Environment and bank officials in the day’s event, also inspected the pineapple farms at the Ngariyan Ching in Angtha which are planted under the various schemes of the department. He was also accompanied by bank officials who educated the farmers regarding various loans.
The team also inspected the under-construction cold storage at Thambalnu Market and mushroom unit at Angtha Peruk Khunou Leikai besides overseeing the Andro Santhei Natural Park and Panam Ningthou Garden.