Kerala State Warehousing Corporation gets technology backstopping from ICAR Institutes

ICAR - Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT), Kochi along with ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research (ICAR-IISR), has joined hands with Kerala State Warehousing Corporation (KSWC) for establishing a temperature controlled storage facility at State Warehouse, Vandanmedu, Idukki, Kerala. A tri-partite agreement has been signed between the Institutes and KSWC on 8th February 2019.

The Institutes shall be providing the design and development support to KSWC, for establishing the energy efficient storage facility for dried cardamom and vegetables at their Godown at Vandanmedu. Technology backstopping shall be provided through training, and technical guidance to optimize the storage conditions of various produce. The facility is expected to be commissioned and made functional by the end of March 2019, and it shall reduce the quantity of waste, and lengthen the timeframe for marketing of the produce.

A Quality Control Laboratory is also being set up along with the storage facility to ensure enhanced shelf life and superior quality of spices and vegetables. By establishing this scientifically advanced preservation system, KSWC is trying to avoid glut and post-harvest losses faced by the farmers and also to arrange easy credit and holding power to them, thereby enabling them to fetch better price for their products.