Dolakha, Dec. 16: Shailung in Dolakha district is famous for potato production. Famously known as Mudeko aalu, the delicious potato cultivated there, commands a big share in the markets nationwide.

However, the farmers cultivating the potato are not happy as they are not able to sell them at fair price to the traders who, after buying cheaply from the farmers sell them at much higher price. This is all because farmers don’t have cold-storage facility to store potatoes, which are perishable, meaning they decay in short period of time.

Aiming to solve this problem faced by the farmers, a large high-tech cold storage warehouse is being constructed at Botle, Ward No. 3, in Shailung Rural Municipality.

GP / Ramsagar / RS JV, the contractor Company, is constructing the warehouse at a cost of Rs. 60 million with the target of completing it within one year.

Shrikrishna Gautam, Supervisor of the company, informed that the construction work started from July 15 and 40 per cent work had been completed so far.

Stating that machinery wall of 500 cubic meters has been laid, one building had been roofed and foundations works had been completed so far, he said that the work would be completed by mid-June 2021 if it could be continued without hindrance.

Chairman of Shailung Rural Municipality Bharat Dulal said that the warehouse would help last perishable produce of the distriuct, like potatoes, cauliflowers, kiwis etc., much longer so that farmers could sell them even after a long time, and that it would help the people in improving their living standards.

He added that five stores had been set up in Shailung for the seed storage and their conservation to make it a pocket area for potato production.

According to the agriculture section of Shailung Rual Municipality, potatoes worth around Rs. 150 million are produced in Shailung alone every year.