Summary:
Agra: Stopping the operation of preservation units, cold storage centre owners have issued ultimatum to farmers to take away their stored potatoes within a week, failing which the centres would sell or otherwise dispose of the stored produce. However, most of the 270 centres in Agra still have stock of potatoes stored in them.Mohammad Aamir, general secretary of Potato Producers’ Association said, “Cold storage centres have stopped preservation. The government has failed to take cognizance of the matter.”Sudarshan Agarwal, president of the Cold Storage Association of Agra said, “Machines at the cold storages have been stopped. Around 5 lakh packets of potato, with each packet weighing 50kg, are stored in cold storage centres of Agra district.The last date determined by the district administration for withdrawal of potatoes stored at the cold centres was December 31. Farmers are not interested in taking away their produce due to prevailing low market rates..