Bengal reserves 30 pc of cold storage space for marginal farmers

IANS February 17, 2025 409 views

The West Bengal government has implemented a groundbreaking policy to support marginal farmers by reserving 30% of cold storage spaces. This initiative aims to address seasonal storage challenges faced by small-scale agricultural producers, particularly potato farmers. District magistrates will oversee the implementation, ensuring farmers can store up to 30 quintals of produce. The policy demonstrates a proactive approach to supporting the agricultural community and addressing economic disparities in rural sectors.

"This will help the farmers, especially the marginal farmers" - West Bengal Progressive Potato Traders' Association
Kolkata, Feb 17: The West Bengal government has directed all the cold storage owners in the state to reserve 30 per cent of the space at their respective facilities for the marginal farmers.

Key Points

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State government directs cold storage owners to reserve space for marginal farmers

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Farmers can store up to 30 quintals of potatoes

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Application process includes Kisan Credit Card verification

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First-come-first-serve basis for storage allocation

This has been done to give relief to the marginal farmers who suffer seasonal tension regarding the storage of their farm products, mainly potatoes,

An instruction on this count has reached all the district magistrates in the state so that the decision of the state government is passed on to cold storage owners in their respective districts.

The district magistrates have also been advised to personally supervise and ensure that the state government's order on this count is followed true to its spirit. As per the decision, the marginal farmers will be able to store a maximum quantity of 30 quintals of potato, which approximately, will count to 70 sacks.

"The cold storage owners will have to keep 30 per cent of the space at their facilities for the marginal farmers up to a certain period in every season. If the reserve spaces remain unoccupied after that specified period then only the owners can rent out that place to others. However, if the cold storage owners are unable to rent out that vacant space after the expiry of that specified period, they will not be provided any compensation for that from the state government. The state government had to take this decision for the sake of the interest of the marginal farmers," an official from the state secretariat, Nabanna said.

The marginal farmers willing to avail of that reserved storage facility will have to apply with supporting documents like Kisan Credit Cards and papers related to their crop insurance. Space will be allotted on a "first come, first serve" basis.

The state government official said the decision on this count was taken following complaints that often marginal farmers willing to avail of the cold storage facilities are unable to avail of it since the spaces of the cold storage have already been reserved by the large farmers.

Welcoming the decision on the part of the state government, an office-bearer from the West Bengal Progressive Potato Traders' Association said the state government, at the same time, should also consider purchasing 30 per cent of the total potato produced directly from the farmers.

"This will help the farmers, especially the marginal farmers and will also be instrumental in keeping the price of the product stable in the retail markets," he said.

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Tags:
West Bengal Agriculture Marginal Farmers Cold Storage Potato Farmers Agricultural Policy
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