In a significant step towards strengthening Sikkim’s cooperative-led horticulture ecosystem, Sikkim State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd. (SIMFED) held an interactive meeting in Gangtok to explore infrastructure development opportunities under National Horticulture Board (NHB) schemes.
The meeting, attended by SIMFED CGM Jeevan Sharma and senior officials, focused on enhancing post-harvest management and supply chain infrastructure through cooperative participation.
Key discussions included the development of farm gate and integrated pack houses, collection and aggregation centres, refrigerated vehicles, retail outlets, cold storages, and mobile as well as solar-powered pre-cooling units.
Officials informed stakeholders about the 50 per cent Credit Linked Back Ended Subsidy (CLBES) available under NHB schemes. Special eligibility norms for the North Eastern Region, including Sikkim, were also highlighted, particularly for cold storage projects with a minimum capacity of 1000 MT.
The meeting further discussed convergence benefits under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), which provides collateral-free loans up to Rs 2 crore along with 3 per cent interest subvention.
SIMFED expressed strong interest in collaborative initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable horticulture growth and strengthening cooperative-led agri infrastructure across the state.