Puducherry: The Puducherry Market Committee of the Department of Agriculture has installed cold storage facilities in `uzhavar sandhais' here to enable vegetable vendors to preserve their produce. The facility has been provided free of cost.

Agriculture Minister V. Vaithilingam inaugurated it at the Odiansalai `uzhavar sandhai'on Monday.

An official source said Uzhavar Sandhais in different parts of Puducherry were providing marketing facilities for the farmers who bring around 14 tonnes of vegetables and fruits from remote villages every day. They are given free transport facilities.

Lawspet facility

The administration had spent Rs 6.8 lakh for the cold storage facility installed at Odiansalai. Another facility was launched simultaneously at Lawspet `uzhavar sandhai'for which the Government had spent Rs 5.86 lakh. One more unit would be installed at Arumbathapuram soon, the source said. Each of the plants can preserve between 2 and 3 tonnes of vegetables and fruits.

Mr. Vaithilingam told The Hindu that the opening of the cold storage facility was to fulfil the promise given on the floor of the Assembly in the course of a debate on Agriculture recently.

Enumeration

Mr. Vaithilingam handed over application forms to farm labourers for enrolment as members of the Puducherry State Agricultural Labourers Welfare Society.

The Society headed by Secretary to Agriculture Department is meant to take care of socio- economic security of farm workers.

It had been assessed that Puducherry region had a total strength of 39,063 workers while Karaikal has 12,687 workers. Mahe and Yanam have a strength of 205 and 862 workers respectively.

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