J&K has only 2. 70 LMT CA storage capacity: Govt

Pulwama, March 06: The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory has only 2.70 lakh metric tonnes of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage capacity available for various fruit crops which is less than the estimated requirement.
In reply to a starred question by MLA Sirigufwara- Bijbehara constituency, Dr S Bashir Ahmad Veeri, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Departments, Javid Ahmad Dar, informed the assembly that the estimated requirement for CA storage in J&K is 6.00 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), accounting for 30% of the annual production of fruit crops.
The house was informed that Jammu and Kashmir has 2.70 LMT of capacity available at present.
The minister said that this year nine CA storage projects with a combined capacity of 0.37 LMT will be added which will take the total capacity to 3.7 MLT.
The house was told that most CA stores are located at Industrial Growth Centre Lassipora in Pulwama, and Industrial Estate Aglar in Shopian.
The Minister for Agriculture Production informed that efforts are underway with the Industries and Commerce Department to establish sector- specific industrial estates for horticulture and post-harvest management in other districts.
CA storage plays a crucial role in post-harvest management by regulating the supply of fresh apples in the market and extending their shelf life. Traditionally, orchardists had to sell apples immediately after harvest, leading to an oversupply in the market and reduced prices.
With CA storage, they now have the option to preserve their produce and sell it during periods of higher demand, ensuring better returns.
Jammu and Kashmir has been producing around 20 LMT of apples annually for the past three years, making it the leading apple-producing region in India. However, the shortfall in storage capacity remains a challenge, affecting both growers and the overall horticulture sector.