Question : Cold Storage for Bananas

(a) whether the Government has received any request from the State Government of Tamil Nadu or farmers union to set up a Banana cold storage warehouse and Banana Research Centre in Thotiyam, Musiri, Kulithalai and Lalkudi in Tamil Nadu where banana is cultivated in large quantity;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the Banana cold storage warehouse and Banana Research Centre in Thotiyam, Musiri, Kulithalai and Lalkudi would be set up;

(c) if not, whether the Government would consider such proposal for implementation in future;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the total number of Banana cold storage warehouses and Banana Research Centres functioning in the country as on date, State-wise?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) to (e): No such request has been received by Union Government.

National Research Centre for Banana is already functioning under ICAR at Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu which is very near to Banana clusters like Thotiyam, Musiri, Kulithalai and Lalkudi and the centre provides support to the banana growers.

Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for development of Horticulture in the country, which includes assistance for development of Post Harvest Management (PHM) including establishment of cold storages, pack house, pre-cooling units, controlled atmosphere (CA) storage, reefer vans and setting up of ripening chambers etc.

The component is demand/ entrepreneur-driven from among entrepreneurs, private companies, cooperatives, farmers groups etc through commercial ventures for which government assistance is available in the form of credit linked back ended subsidy.

No cold storage specifically for storing Banana has been sanctioned under MIDH. However, State – wise details of cold storage sanctioned under MIDH in the country is at Annexure – I.

State – wise details of Banana Research Centres functioning in the country is at Annexure – II.