Karnataka horticulture on receiving end amid cold storage crisis, fuel price hike

Bengaluru: Karnataka’s fruit and vegetable farmers are on the receiving end due to a crunch of cold storage facilities in the state, and now an increase in diesel prices has further deteriorated the situation. The state has only 221 cold storage units to store a huge quantity of perishable fruits and veggies. Remember! Karnataka exports horticultural products in massive quantities. Most produce is expected to be wasted if not sold quickly.

The transportation cost has gone up due to the recent increase in diesel prices by Rs 2 per liter. Most of the cold storages and refrigerated trucks are running on diesel; farmers believe that operation costs will be hiked by 15-20%.

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Every crop doesn’t need cold storage, but transportation is essential for all. The enhancement of diesel prices will certainly affect the supply chain — farmers and consumers. Consumers may cut down their consumption of fruits and vegetables due to the increase in their prices amid the enhancement in fuel price hikes. Traders are expected to buy fewer horticultural products; where will farmers sell their products?

It seems that no immediate solution or relief will be provided to farmers. Karnataka’s horticulture has been passing through a tough time, caught between increasing diesel prices and inadequate storage facilities, which led to shrinking their profits. Fruits and vegetables can be stored for a maximum of 15 days; after that, the quality will start to drop.