Tue May 13 14:20:11 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Tamil Nadu government has allocated ₹4 crore to establish a 200-tonne cold storage facility in Thisaiyanvilai, Tirunelveli district. This facility aims to help farmers store fruits and vegetables, especially drumstick, a major export crop from the Radhapuram region. The cold storage will benefit farmers from Tirunelveli and neighboring districts by allowing them to store produce during glut season, reduce post-harvest losses, extend shelf-life, and ultimately receive better prices. The facility, located within the regulated market complex, will be easily accessible and will also benefit exporters and agripreneurs involved in drumstick value-addition.
**News Article:**
**Tamil Nadu Invests ₹4 Crore in Cold Storage to Boost Farmer Income, Drumstick Exports**
TIRUNELVELI, May 13, 2025 – The Tamil Nadu government has announced a significant investment of ₹4 crore for the construction of a 200-tonne cold storage facility in Thisaiyanvilai, Tirunelveli district. The initiative aims to support local farmers by providing a solution for storing fruits and vegetables, with a particular focus on drumstick, a key agricultural product of the region.
The announcement follows the Budget session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, where Minister for Agriculture M.R.K. Panneerselvam highlighted the importance of the facility for ensuring farmers receive fair prices for their produce. Thisaiyanvilai alone produces over 22,000 tonnes of drumstick annually, much of which is exported.
The cold storage facility, located within the regulated market complex, will be easily accessible to farmers, traders, and exporters from Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Kanniyakumari districts. It will enable them to store their crops during periods of oversupply, reduce spoilage, and extend the shelf-life of their products, leading to improved profitability.
According to Mr. Appavu, the investment was secured through demands made during the state budget talks and will support farmer income stabilization and preservation. “Without significantly affecting the quality of these produce, we can ensure balanced supply based on demand in the market,” he said. “The facility will avoid glut season distress sale while ensuring price stabilization and preservation without any chemical.”
The facility is also expected to benefit agripreneurs and exporters involved in drumstick value-addition, opening up new avenues for growth and expansion in the region. The government hopes this investment will solidify Tirunelveli’s position as a major fruit and vegetable producer and strengthen its export capabilities.
First Piper 