Bhubaneswar, Feb 17: In a major boost to agriculture and farmers' welfare, the Odisha government has announced plans to establish cold storage facilities in every block of the state. The initiative was revealed by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Monday.

Speaking to the media, the minister emphasized that farmers often face challenges in storing their perishable produce due to a lack of proper storage infrastructure. To address this issue, the government is setting up new marketplaces (mandis) in regions where they do not exist and ensuring the establishment of cold storage units in every block to help farmers preserve their excess produce.

“In areas where mandis are unavailable, we are working to create them, allowing farmers to sell their crops directly. Additionally, we aim to provide safe storage options, enabling farmers to avoid distress sales and secure better prices,” Patra stated.

The minister also highlighted that efforts are being made to increase potato production in Odisha, with results expected in the next one to two years. The initiative is expected to significantly improve farmers' earnings and strengthen the state’s agricultural economy.

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