Cold storage plants vital to prevent spoilage of bumper harvests

By Jayampathy Jayasinghe

Setting up cold storage plants in the country is essential to prevent spoilage of the bumper harvest of fish, vegetables and fruits.

Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Felix Perera said recently that 40 percent of vegetables and fruits that are transported to the market place perish owing to lack of refrigeration.

He was speaking at the signing ceremony of a joint venture between China's Yantai Moon Company Ltd, and Lanka Industrial Services Agencies (Pvt) Ltd last week in Colombo. The minister said to minimise spoilage cold storage rooms have to be set up in the country. High quality cold storage equipment was imported from China at an affordable price to overcome this impasse, he said.

General Manager of China's Yantai Moon Company Ltd, Li Zenggun and Chairman, Lanka Industrial Services Agencies, Clement Fernando signed the agreement to import high quality refrigeration equipment to Sri Lanka.

Referring to the fisheries industry, the minister said owing to non- availability of cold storage plants in the country the nutritious value of fresh fish could not be retained. However, the Fisheries Corporation was able to provide fresh fish to people at an affordable price owing to its large cold storage plants. People prefer to consume bacteria free fresh fish.

He said Lanka Industrial Services Agencies produces 60 percent of ice needed for the fisheries industry.

General Manager, Yantai Moon Company Ltd, Li Zenggun said their company was one of the renowned companies in the world that produces refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for nearly half a century.

The company was listed in the Shanghai stock market in 1992 and has a network of offices around the world.

Yantai Moon has been decorated with several national awards such as "Nation Important New Product National Silver Award, China Machinery Famous Brand and National Silver Award.

The recipient of ISO 9001 quality certificate, Chairman, Lanka Industrial Services Agencies Clement Fernando said refrigeration was essential in the rural areas for preservation of fresh fish, vegetables and fruits. Advanced refrigeration was needed to preserve the bountiful harvest of fish from the sea and inland water bodies.

Lanka Industrial Services Agencies counts over 25 years' experience in refrigeration and air conditioning. It serves poultry and livestock processing, aquatic product processing, dairy, fruit and vegetable processing.

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