In a first, Hooghly to get cold storages for onion, garlic
The Statesman | 15 October 2025State minister with independent charge of the agricultural marketing department, Becharam Manna, said that the initiative taken by chief minister Mamata Banerjee to establish cold storages for onions and garlic will make the state self-sufficient and help keep market prices under control and within the reach of common people. “We will no longer have to depend on Maharashtra, Nashik, and other onion-producing states. We are very thankful to the CM for ensuring that the first cold storage facility, with a storage capacity of 25 metric tonnes for onions and garlic, is coming up in Hooghly district,” he added.
A total of Rs 9.65 crore has been sanctioned to set up 750 cold storages across 10 onion-producing districts of West Bengal. In Hooghly alone, 175 cold storages will be constructed. The district has already received 337 applications from onion and garlic growers seeking to avail the benefits of the scheme. After verification, the final selection of beneficiaries will be made through a lottery, and those selected will also receive subsidies.
Mr Manna further stated that the state agriculture department will extend all possible support to farmers to significantly increase the production of onion and garlic through advanced agricultural technology. The surplus yield can be stored in these cold storages for a longer period, allowing for a steady supply to wholesale and retail markets and maintaining price stability. “This initiative will end our dependence on other states for onions and garlic, make West Bengal self-sufficient in production, and ensure that farmers enjoy steady sales and profits throughout the year,” he said.
