Uttar Pradesh Gears Up to Modernize Cold Storage Sector with ‘Sankalp’ Initiative

Lucknow. The Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) organized a multi-stakeholder workshop in Lucknow under its flagship initiative "Sankalp – Cold Storage Empowerment and Innovation Initiative" to accelerate modernization of outdated cold storage infrastructure across Uttar Pradesh. The workshop aimed to identify scalable and energy-efficient solutions to convert old single-commodity cold storage units into modern, multi-purpose, and energy-saving facilities.

Uttar Pradesh accounts for nearly 40% of India’s total cold storage capacity, with over 2,500 cold storages, the majority of which were built before 2010 and are primarily designed for potato storage. These outdated units face several challenges including high energy costs, low utilization, and inability to support multiple crops, leading to post-harvest losses and increased financial pressure on smallholder farmers.

State Horticulture Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh inaugurated the session, emphasizing the need for a transformative upgrade:

“Modernizing our cold storages is critical not just for food security but also to enhance farmers’ income. Through public-private partnerships, we can unlock the full potential of this sector.”

He appreciated AEEE’s ‘Sankalp’ and ‘Sugam’ initiatives and proposed:

Establishing PPP-based cold rooms at mandi level.

Involving the Department of Potatoes in the modernization efforts.

Technical support from AEEE to extend shelf life for perishable crops like mango.

Inclusion of women stakeholders and standardization of cold storage services.

In his keynote, K.K. Neeraj, Deputy Director (Potato), Uttar Pradesh, stressed the urgency of infrastructure upgrades, citing incidents like an ammonia leak in Bareilly due to poor facility awareness and outdated safety systems.

Key Focus Areas Discussed:
Integration of Energy Efficiency (EE) and Renewable Energy (RE) in cold storage operations.

Digital platforms for profiling, scheme awareness, and collecting Expressions of Interest (EOIs).

Details on government subsidies through MIDH, NCCD, and Integrated Pack Houses (up to 35%).

Financial models for modernization:

₹1 crore for basic renovation

₹2.3 crore for multi-chamber/multi-product storage

₹10 crore for full cold chain infrastructure

Training programs for ITI graduates, and cluster-based workshops in Agra, Kanpur, and Kannauj were also announced.

Bhanu Prakash Ram, Director, Horticulture, Uttar Pradesh, urged cold storage owners to come forward with actionable project proposals:

“The department often has the budget, but lacks good proposals. Owners must participate actively.”

Girish Kumar, Senior Energy Advisor, UPNEDA, highlighted:

“Energy efficiency is key. Solar power and net metering can reduce operating costs by up to 85%.”

Pramod Kumar Singh, Senior Director of Research & Programs at AEEE, added:

“Cold storage modernization is not just a tech upgrade, it’s a coordination challenge. Through ‘Sankalp’, we’re creating an integrated platform connecting policy, finance, technology, and stakeholders.”

In the Open House Session, participants shared experiences:

Abhay Kumar appreciated AEEE’s energy audits and EEMs (Energy Efficiency Measures).

Tripti (BKT Cold Store) reported 15–20% savings through upgrades like power factor improvement, better insulation, and fin coil systems.

Suggestions included lifting the 180 KVA solar cap, creating service standards, and encouraging women’s participation.

The workshop concluded with a plan to organize roundtables on ‘Sankalp’, gather feedback, and collect EOIs from interested cold storage owners. The event marked a major step towards scaling cold chain modernization across Uttar Pradesh.