Project Description

It involves establishment of a collection point and a cold storage at Haripur with the following facilities:

Fruit Shed
Vegetable Shed
Auction Shed
Shops
Weigh Bridge
Market Office
Cold Storage (1000 Tons Capacity)
Access Roads
Water Supply & Sewerage facilities
Support Facilities

Location
Haripur, NWFP

Land Area
4.8 Acres contributed by Government of NWFP

Project Cost (approved)
Rs. 40.110 million

Date of Approval
22-09-2004

EDF Approved Funds
Rs. 37.590 million (excludes cost of land)

Management Set-up

A private limited company had been formed to implement and operate the project. The Board of Directors consists of the directors from PHDEB, Agriculture Department NWFP, TDAP and the private sector people (growers). The day to day affairs of the project will be run by staff to be hired from the market.

Current Status

As per plan, land for the project was to be provided by Government of NWFP, which was delayed. Later on, site was changed a number of times, resulting in considerable delay in start up of project implementation and consequently project cost has increased significantly. In view of this, project implementation has been divided into two(2) phases. First phase involves construction of marketing infrastructure, while second phase will cover establishment of cold storage i.e. construction of building and installation of machinery and left over allied facilities.

Tenders for civil works for Phase I were floated in December, 2007. Tendering process including evaluation has been completed. The contract for the work will be awarded in Mach 2008.

For establishment of cold storage, private sector investors are invited to join the Board on mutually agreed terms. One of the available may be lease of land to the potential investor who will build, own and operate the cold store.

Expected Project Benefits

• Increased Commercial Activity : The establishment of wholesale market and cold storage facilities would enhance the pace and volumes of business by providing market place for commercial transactions for the domestic and international trade.

• Market Price Stabilization : With appropriate market infrastructure, the supplies would be regulated by moving supplies from surplus to deficit areas and also by holding surplus in cold store and releasing when there is a need. These factors will help create market equilibrium and ultimately price stability to the advantage of both the farmers as well the consumers.

• Increased and Extended Product Availability : Reduction of waste will directly enhance availability of the produce. Further, the cold storage facilities would result in supplies during off-season which otherwise may not be possible.

• Improvement of Quality of Foodstuffs : Timely placement of products in the cold storage will help preserve their quality and improve shelf life. It will also avoid food contamination caused by microbial activity thus assuring availability of quality food products.

• Employment Opportunities : The development and operation of the proposed physical infrastructure will not only create direct jobs but indirect jobs as well resulting in improved per capita income and ultimately a better living standard of people of the area.

• Balanced Diet : An appropriate marketing and refrigeration network allows a greater variety of products to be marketed and distributed among population and therefore a balanced diet from a nutrition point of view can be achieved.