2 more CA stores in pipeline despite poor demand from fruit growers

Even as most Controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores in the government sector have been rented out to private players due to the lack of demand by fruit growers, Himachal Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board (HPSAMB) is constructing two more stores at Parwanoo and in Mandi district. The proposal to build these two stores was approved in the HPSAMB’s Board of Directors meeting held a while back.

Incidentally, all seven CA stores, owned by Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC), have been rented out to private players as growers have shown little interest in storing their produce in these stores. Even HPSAMB had rented out its own CA store at Parala, which became operational this year, to a private player but the plan was dropped at the eleventh hour over the rent offered. The CA store has been built at a cost of over Rs 60 cr, but the highest bid it received was of Rs 3.36 cr per annum, considered low in view of the investment made.

In a nutshell, neither the growers are showing interest in using these facilities nor the government is earning adequate revenue when compared with the investment made. Why, then, construct additional CA stores? C Paulrasu, Secretary Horticulture and chairman of HPSAMB, points out a larger picture behind constructing these stores.

“Even if only private players or commission agents are storing apple in these stores, it’s still beneficial for the growers. These stores are holding back the apple which would have otherwise reached the running market. The lesser supply means better rates for those selling in the running market,” said Paulrasu. “Besides, the revenue these stores are fetching isn’t low by the market standards,” Paulrasu added.

Meanwhile, growers aren’t against the construction of CA stores but they want these CA stores close to the market yards and having smaller chambers. “Growers show little interest due to the huge size of the chambers in these stores. Along with bigger chambers that could be rented out to private players, the stores should have smaller chambers if the government really wants growers to use these facilities,” said Harish Chauhan, convener of the Sanyukt Kisan Manch.

Incidentally, it’s not that growers do not store their produce. They do but they prefer storing it in terminal markets like Chandigarh and New Delhi. “Eventually, the stored fruit is sold at these markets. So, the growers prefer CA stores in Chandigarh and Delhi,” said Lokinder Bisht, president of the Progressive Growers Association. And unlike in the CA stores in the state where growers have to pre-book a chamber, the growers in Chandigarh and Delhi can store their apple anytime depending on the prevailing rate in the running market.