The zero-energy cold storage in Dagapela, which was constructed in 2012, still remains unused. The plant was constructed with support from SAARC Development Fund at a cost of Nu 2 M to store farm produces.
The cold storage was constructed with double walls, and the gap between the walls are filled with fine sand. And sand has to be drenched with water timely to keep the temperature inside cool. This technology doesn’t require electricity.
However, right after the construction, a trial to store mandarins failed due to leaked walls.
“We tried for the first time with 880 kilograms of oranges. Half of the oranges were dipped in anti rotting agents and the other half stored raw. But as the walls from the inside leaked we had to stop it, as there was the risk of spoiling the fruits,” Tenzin Rabgyel, the Plant Manager of Integrated Food Processing Plant, said.
Further, a windstorm damaged its roof in 2015.
“The roofs were imported from China. It is not like an ordinary roof so it was expensive for us to replace it immediately. The plant remained without a roof for over six months. Then the rains damaged walls, therefore, we were not able to put the plant in use,” Tenzin Rabgyel said.
The storage has the capacity to store over 5 metric tonnes of mandarin. Officials say they have written to relevant stakeholders for additional financial assistance for maintenance of the plant.
