Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh’s First Government-Led Cold Chain and Irradiation Facility
- 23 Jun 2025
- 3 min read
Why in News?
Dantewada in Chhattisgarh will have the state’s first government-led integrated cold chain and irradiation facility to increase tribal incomes and minimize post-harvest losses.
Key Points
- About the Facility:
- Location: To be established at Patarras village in Dantewada district, southern Chhattisgarh.
- Integrated Infrastructure: Includes cold storage, gamma irradiation, processing, and logistics components.
- Designed to extend shelf life, reduce spoilage, and improve the marketability of forest and horticultural produce.
- First-of-its-Kind: First government-led cold chain and multi-product irradiation facility in India under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY).
- Implementation and Funding:
- Agreement signed with the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology for irradiation technology.
- The entire project is being funded by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) of Dantewada.
- Impacts:
- Rural Employment: Will generate local employment across the supply chain.
- Economic Empowerment: Ensures value addition within the region so that more income stays with local tribal communities.
- Strategic Alignment: Supports regional development plans. Aims to counter left-wing extremism by expanding sustainable livelihood opportunities in Bastar.
- Focus on Minor Forest Produce (MFP): The region’s key MFP, such as tamarind, mahua, wild mango, millets, and local spices, often suffer 10–20% annual losses due to inadequate storage and preservation facilities.
- The facility will improve storage and add value to local produce, helping reduce wastage and fetch better market prices. It is expected to directly raise the incomes of forest produce collectors and local farmers.
- Market Linkages: Raipur, Visakhapatnam, and other key urban centres have been identified as potential markets.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
- About:
- The Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters (SAMPADA) was approved in May 2017 and later renamed Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).
- It is a central sector scheme aimed at developing modern infrastructure and efficient supply chains from the farm gate to retail.
- PMKSY promotes growth in the food processing sector, ensures better prices for farmers, generates rural jobs, reduces agricultural wastage, increases food processing levels, and boosts exports of processed foods.
- Objective: To support agriculture, modernize food processing, and reduce agri-waste.
- Key Components:
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
