Srinagar, Feb 12 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday said it has achieved most of the required Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage capacity in south Kashmir and is now focusing on balanced dispersal of cold storage infrastructure across all apple-growing regions of the Union Territory.
The Minister for Agriculture Production informed the Legislative Assembly in reply to a question by MLA Devsar Peerzada Feroze Ahmad, said that in south Kashmir — covering Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam districts — a total of 55 CA stores have already been established in the Aglar Industrial Estate of Shopian and Lassipora Industrial Estate of Pulwama, along with one CA store in Anantnag district, creating a combined storage capacity of 2.57 lakh metric tonnes (MT).
The minister, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), however, clarified that no application has so far been received from Kulgam district for the establishment of a CA storage facility.
Providing production figures, the minister informed the House that South Kashmir produces an average of 9.49 lakh MT of apples annually, requiring an estimated 2.85 lakh MT of CA storage capacity. With 2.57 lakh MT already in place, the region has nearly met its requirement.
“In view of this progress, the government is now prioritising balanced development of CA stores across all apple-growing areas of Jammu and Kashmir,” the minister said.
Highlighting regional disparities, the reply revealed that north Kashmir currently has only five CA stores with a capacity of 0.19 lakh MT, against a requirement of 2.37 lakh MT.
Similarly, central Kashmir has just four CA stores with a capacity of 0.10 lakh MT, while the actual requirement stands at 0.86 lakh MT.
“The Jammu Division has hardly any CA storage facility in the private sector,” the minister added, underlining the urgent need for investment in cold chain infrastructure in the region.
To encourage private participation, the minister said the government is providing financial assistance under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), supplemented by top-up subsidies from the UT Capex budget, for setting up CA stores and cold storage units.
Besides subsidies, the department is promoting post-harvest infrastructure through awareness programmes, farmer facilitation, technical guidance and handholding support for farmers, FPOs and entrepreneurs.
"Efforts are also underway in coordination with the Industries and Commerce Department to establish sector-specific industrial estates for horticulture and post-harvest management across more districts," the reply stated.
The minister clarified that land for CA stores and cold storage facilities is allotted under the J&K Industrial Land Allotment Policy, 2021–30, and units are required to become operational within stipulated timelines.
“Any delay in establishment of cold storage and packing hubs in Kulgam industrial estates is attributable to the concerned private units, as all such infrastructure is developed by entrepreneurs and not by the government,” the minister said.
He informed that 29 units have already been allotted land in Kulgam district during earlier allotment spells for setting up CA stores.
Additionally, during the 2024–25 appraisal cycle, 64 fresh applications received on the J&K Single Window Portal up to 31 January 2026 have been examined and are in the process of being placed before the High-Level Land Allotment Committee.
The minister further said food processing and cold chain units are being supported under PM-FME, MIDH and UT Capex schemes, open to individuals, SHGs, FPOs and entrepreneurs.
He said that since 2023–24, 1,468 beneficiaries have availed assistance under PM-FME, and five beneficiaries have received support under MIDH.
According to the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) portal, six cold chain projects were approved on March 11, 2025, out of which five have been completed, and one is currently under implementation—(KNO)