Agriculture
Karnataka Horticulture Department Announces 50% Subsidy for Cold Storage Vans for Small Farmers
The Karnataka horticulture department will subsidise up to 50% of the cost of refrigerated transport vans for small farmer groups to curb post‑harvest losses of fruits and vegetables.
The Karnataka horticulture department has unveiled a subsidy scheme offering up to 50% financial support to small farmer groups for the purchase of advanced refrigerated transport vans. The move aims to prevent spoilage of fruits and vegetables before they reach market outlets, thereby protecting farmer incomes and ensuring fresh produce for consumers.
Under the scheme, eligible farmer collectives can acquire state‑of‑the‑art cold‑storage vans at half the market price, with the subsidy covering the majority of the purchase cost. The department expects the initiative to significantly reduce post‑harvest losses, which have traditionally eroded a large portion of farmers' earnings.
The programme is part of a broader effort by the state to modernise agricultural supply chains and enhance the competitiveness of Karnataka’s horticultural produce. Officials have urged interested farmer groups to apply through the department’s online portal and to submit the required documentation to qualify for the subsidy.
Implementation will be monitored by the horticulture department in coordination with local agricultural extension offices, ensuring that the vans are deployed efficiently across the state’s major fruit‑ and vegetable‑producing regions.
Under the scheme, eligible farmer collectives can acquire state‑of‑the‑art cold‑storage vans at half the market price, with the subsidy covering the majority of the purchase cost. The department expects the initiative to significantly reduce post‑harvest losses, which have traditionally eroded a large portion of farmers' earnings.
The programme is part of a broader effort by the state to modernise agricultural supply chains and enhance the competitiveness of Karnataka’s horticultural produce. Officials have urged interested farmer groups to apply through the department’s online portal and to submit the required documentation to qualify for the subsidy.
Implementation will be monitored by the horticulture department in coordination with local agricultural extension offices, ensuring that the vans are deployed efficiently across the state’s major fruit‑ and vegetable‑producing regions.