Most of the eight solar-powered mini cold stores installed in Bogura by the government to cut vegetable waste remain locked nearly eight months after they arrived. The few that run hold no produce, and at least one runs on grid power instead of its solar system.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the Farmers' Mini Cold Storage project, funded by the Climate Change Trust Fund, placed four container units in Shibganj, three in Gabtali and one in Sariakandi. Each cost about Tk 15 lakh and can hold vegetables at 8-10°C.
Rokonul Islam Rokon, who runs the unit at Monitola near Mahasthan haat, said he spent about Tk 100,000 on connections and other work. The unit has solar panels, a lithium battery and a grid link, but he mostly uses grid power, paying Tk 2,200 to 3,200 a month. He stored green chillies for 14 days and lost money when prices fell, then beetroot and lemons; the store is now empty.
Another operator, Taherul Islam, said he kept pointed gourd and okra briefly but locked the unit because he was never trained to run it. Rezwanul Islam in Bagbari, Gabtali, said there is no point running it when farmers bring nothing, and interest is low. Sujaul Islam of Mokamtola said many farmers do not yet know these stores exist.
Md Mahfuz Alam, additional deputy director of DAE in Bogura, said the district grows more than 500,000 tonnes of vegetables a year and, for want of storage, over 112,600 tonnes worth about Tk 395-400 crore go unsold and rot. Eight of 100 planned container cold stores nationwide are in Bogura; the solar systems have had teething problems that should be solved over time, he said.
Deputy director Sohel Md Shamsuddin Firoz said the complaints are being recorded, project director Talha Zubair Masroor recently inspected several units, and action will follow a review. People in the sector say that without operator training, farmer awareness, working solar systems and a plan to market stored produce, the buildings alone will not cut waste.
Agricare24 credits the report to Risingbd.com.
Source: Agricare24
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