Newmai News Network Imphal | April 3 The Manipur Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister, Thounaojam Shyamkumar said today that the department has a fund of Rs 6 crore for the construction of cold storage. He said cold storage will be constructed at 6 districts of the State at the required locations. According to the Minister, under the direction of the Chief Minister N Biren Singh, the department officials are visiting the beneficiaries on the spot to check the ground reality and provide benefits directly to the beneficiaries under various schemes of the department. The Minister further said the under-construction cold storage at the Yairipok Thambalnu Market will be completed in the next 2 months and said the department is focusing on providing benefits under various schemes to the farmers who really require help from the department. The Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister along with the department officials distributed pineapple suckers to the pineapple farmers of the Angtha, Andro assembly constituency. He said earlier, suckers imported from Australia were distributed to the pineapple farmers, which failed due to incompatibility with the soil condition of the State. He said farmers should focus on repaying loans on time apart from applying for various schemes. He also inspected the pineapple farms at the Ngariyan Ching, Angtha which are planted under the various schemes of the department. He was also accompanied by bank officials who educated the farmers regarding various loans. The team also inspected the under-construction cold storage at Thambalnu Market and mushroom unit at Angtha Peruk Khunou Leikai. The Minister also visited Andro Santhei Natural Park and Panam Ningthou Garden. Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Th. Shyamkumar was accompanied by the top officials of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department, Forest Department, Directorate of Environment and bank officials.
