GANGTOK: Refrigerated Transport Vehicles were provided to four Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) and Progressive Farmers in Sikkim on Thursday by state Agriculture and horticulture minister, Lok Nath Sharma.
The vehicles were distributed among Khamdong Singtam Organic Farmers Producers Cooperative Society Ltd, East District, Alleydara Sanjivani SHG, South District, Lily Self Help Group from Tikpur and M/s Sikkim Vegetable Growers Association, Berthang, Hee Bermiok, West Sikkim.
The cost of each vehicle is over 18 lakh.
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The Minister also launched the "White Marvel" Button Mushroom, produced and promoted by Integrated Mushroom Development Unit, Majhitar, Horticulture Department, Government of Sikkim.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister stressed on the objectives of providing transportation vehicles to FPOs and SHGs. He mentioned that the transportation vehicles will make it convenient to ensure marketing of the vegetables produced in rural areas of Sikkim.
He asked every beneficiary to wisely utilize the transportation vehicles with proper maintenance.
The vegetables can be stored in vehicles which has temperature control system with single phase AC provision that has storing capacity of fifteen Quintals, he informed.
Lauding the efforts of the department, He also mentioned that the Department of Agriculture have been working tirelessly to benefit the farmers of Sikkim even amid the outbreak of COVID-19.