Belagavi MP seeks establishment of APEDA unit

BJP MP Jagadish Shettar seeks APEDA unit in Belagavi to aid farmers with cold storage and packaging facilities.

BJP MP Jagadish Shettar has urged the Union government to set up a unit of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in Belagavi, on the lines of the APEDA centre in Mapusa in Goa.

He met Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal in New Delhi on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum seeking the establishment of the unit near the Belagavi Airport.

It will help farmers through cold storage and packaging facilities. This will keep farm produce fresh for longer hours to help farmers sell when the price is right, Mr. Shettar said.

The memorandum said that Belagavi is a district where farmers grow fruits and vegetables on a large scale. It is also the second district in the State in terms of exporting them to foreign countries.

“Nearly a fifth of the country’s fruit and vegetable crop is lost every year due to lack of proper cold storage facilities. This deducts an estimated ₹13,300 crore from the earnings of farmers,” he said.

“To prevent this, it is very necessary and essential these days to maintain freshness and quality of fruits and vegetables,” he added.

Mr. Goyal has assured that he will consider the request and try to help farmers, said a release from Mr. Shettar’s office.