The cold store, which is expected to cost Rs 90 million, will be spread over an area of 11 ropanis at Sumri Khola. Fruits and vegetables can be stored at the facility for at least five months.

After the construction of the cooling centre is completed, farmers in Syangja and neighbouring districts will be relieved of the pressure to sell their perishable produce instantly at low rates.

Ananta Kumar Shrestha, chairman of Sheetbhandar Cooperative, said that after the construction is built, it will allow farmers to store their produce for a longer period without danger of their decaying. “We hope to complete the construction within the next two years,” he added.

The cooling centre will have two buildings each with a capacity of 1,250 tonnes. As per the government’s plan to establish cooling centres in each development region, the facility in Syangja was decided to be built in fiscal 2012-13. Bodhraj Aryal, a local farmer from Mayatari, Putali Bazar, said that the centre would be a big relief for them as they were now forced to sell their produce immediately after harvesting and were not able to get reasonable rates.

Vegetable farming is done on 2,500 hectares in Syangja. Orange farms cover 1,700 hectares. Potato is produced on about 900 hectares.

In the last fiscal year, the district produced 19,000 tonnes of orange, 28,000 tonnes of vegetables and 12,100 tonnes of potatoes.

“As farm produce is highly perishable, farmers are forced to sell their crops at cheaper prices. The centre will encourage farmers to cultivate more potatoes and oranges,” said Sridhar Adhikari, an official at the District Agriculture Development Office, Syangja. “Farmers will get double price for their produce during the off season once the cooling centre comes into operation.”

The facility is also expected to help farmers in Palpa, Kaski and Parbat districts.