Associate Action for Progressive Development Society (AAPDA), Cold Chain Project (ICCP) located at Mao Gate in Manipur’s Senapati District bordering Nagaland which displays a wide array of off-season “organic” horticultural products like fruits and vegetables at the ongoing Chinjak Festival at Imphal Hapta Kangjeibung is a point of attraction for many visitors.
Various fresh horticultural products like Kiwi, Wild Apple, Tree Tomatoes, Gooseberry, Oranges, Potato, Reddish, squash etc. harvested by the Mao farmers are made available to the visitors at the stall of this Mao based NGO. Most of the visitors used to buy at least a kilogram of fruits and vegetables from the stall.
AAPDA Cold Chain Project (ICCP), Mao gate project-in-charge Moses Eneh said that the horticultural products being displayed for sale at his stall are purely “organic”. The fruits and vegetables are collected from various farmer clubs in Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, etc. He claimed that the products are grown without using any chemical fertilizrs, but only organic manures.
Launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries with the objective of providing integrated and complete cold chain and preservation infrastructure facilities without any break from the farm gate to consumers, the AAPDA integrated cold chain project which was launched in 2014 brings together farmers, processors and retailers together and link agriculture production to market to maximise value addition, minimize wastage and improve farmers’ income, he said.
The NGO which deals with horticultural products was launched on partnership mode comprising around 10 people. It is now run under a board of directors.
He said AAPDA Cold Chain Project (ICCP), Mao gate is the first multi-purpose cold chain project in Manipur and largest in North East region which can store horticultural products like fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and meat etc. The main activity of the cold chain is to purchase and preserve the fresh vegetables and fruits harvested by different farmers for which it charges some amount. The Products are sold to Imphal, Senapati, Kohima, Guwahaty etc., he said.
He said that AAPDA Cold Chain Project (ICCP) has storage capacity of about 3000 MT (metric ton). The project is now yielding benefits and providing jobs to nearly 40 people.
During the ongoing fest, one Kg of Kiwi fruits is sold in between Rs 160- 200, tree tomato cost around Rs 80 per Kg, Wild Apple Rs 20 etc,. Besides fresh vegetables, fruits, Jams, Juice prickles, etc manufactured by the NGO were also displayed for the sale.
