Every harvest season in Nepal carries both joy and bitterness. After months of hard work, hands hardened by labor finally gather the fruits and vegetables of the land. Fields bloom with fresh goods, and for a moment, there is hope.
But that hope soon fades. With limited access to cold storage, vegetables and fruits decay, and prices drop so low that the harvest barely covers the cost of seeds, leaving farmers with minimal profit. Food that was grown to feed people is lost—not because it wasn’t produced, but because it wasn’t preserved.
This isn’t just a case of agricultural failure and food loss; it represents a betrayal of hard work, where sweat turns to sorrow and harvest to heartbreak.
In Nepal, Kohinoor Cold Storage, operated by KL Dugar, has the largest capacity at 18,000 metric tonnes. Other facilities, like Ram Janaki Cold Storage, which serves Biratnagar with a 5,000-tonne capacity, struggle with high operating costs and underutilization.
Some have shut down due to low demand, such as Ganesh Cold Storage in Biratnagar. The Nepal-India Friendship Society constructed a 5,000-tonne capacity cold storage in Rangeli, but it has yet to become operational. Although some firms, such as Nepcool Industries in Kathmandu, offer cold rooms and refrigerated transport, the services are fragmented and largely inaccessible to the majority of farmers.
Fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) cold stores can significantly reduce post-harvest losses, extend shelf life, improve food safety, and open access to both domestic and international markets. Without preservation, the entire agricultural value chain is weakened.
Cooling fruits and vegetables after harvesting is essential to maintaining quality, as fresh produce begins to deteriorate rapidly at regular temperatures. Cold storage systems remove field heat, reduce enzymatic activity, minimize internal water loss, slow microbial growth, and delay the production of ethylene—the natural ripening agent. Extended shelf life allows farmers the flexibility to sell their produce when market prices improve.
Without cold storage, farmers are forced to harvest during peak seasons, leading to oversupply and plummeting prices. For example, tomatoes in the Terai region can sell for as little as Rs. 5 per kilogram during the season, while the off-season price exceeds Rs. 200 per kilogram.
With insufficient storage space, producers are left with no choice but to sell immediately—often at a loss. This not only destabilizes farm incomes but also limits consumers’ access to fresh produce.
Regions like Dharan-Dhankuta face similar challenges. Despite the abundance of agricultural products, the lack of cold storage leads to significant losses. For instance, although oranges in Dharan generate over Rs. 600 million in market value, much of the harvest is wasted or sold cheaply due to the absence of proper preservation systems.
Proposals for cold storage construction are frequently shelved due to financial constraints. In one case, a proposed facility with an estimated cost of Rs. 100–120 million failed to materialize after the concerned ministry required 60 percent of the funding to come from the local market committee—a contribution they couldn’t meet.
Without storage, large quantities of oranges must be sold immediately after harvesting, leading to sharp price drops and unstable income.
Even where cold storage units exist, they are often underutilized or abandoned. In Morang, some facilities remain unused despite government subsidies, including a 50 percent power bill discount. In Parbat, cold storage was used for oranges in the first year but not thereafter, due to issues like spoilage and changes in taste.
Similar problems persist in Kavre, Sunsari, Khotang, and Ilam, where government- or privately funded cold stores have failed to inspire user confidence or consistent use.
A widespread lack of trust in cold chain infrastructure remains a major obstacle. In many regions, produce is still discarded or dumped due to bad experiences with poorly managed storage systems in the past. Much of the harvest spoils—not because of poor farming—but simply because there is no refrigeration available.
Before buyers are found, the produce often becomes soft, loses taste, and loses value. In a desperate bid to maintain freshness, unsold vegetables are sometimes submerged in roadside water sources, hoping to salvage them for the next day’s sale. Despite months of labor, the true value of the crops is never realized.
However, there are signs of hope. A cold storage facility was recently established in Malarani Rural Municipality to promote youth self-employment. Reports suggest that income levels have improved by storing produce such as potatoes and selling them in the off-season. This model highlights the potential of decentralized, community-based storage systems when paired with appropriate training and operational support.
The Agriculture Component Implementation Unit (ACIU) has also recognized the need for cold storage to advance agricultural commercialization. A five-floor, 1,000 metric tonne capacity building is planned in Tikapur Municipality, Kailali, with an estimated cost of Rs. 74.7 million. The aim is to empower cooperatives, private enterprises, and local agricultural groups by filling the preservation gap.
Agricultural engineers play a central role in this transition. Designing, optimizing, and managing cold storage must be a multidisciplinary effort—blending food science, mechanical and refrigeration engineering, and automation. Engineers can help select efficient materials, incorporate off-grid solutions such as solar cooling, and ensure sustainable operation, especially in rural and remote areas.
Vegetables are listed as the third-most prioritized sub-sector in Nepal’s Agricultural Development Strategy (ADS). However, without efficient storage infrastructure, increased production will not translate into food security or financial stability.
While irrigation, fertilizer, and seed subsidies are widespread, cold storage must be recognized as essential agricultural infrastructure. Preservation is no longer a secondary concern—it is the cornerstone of farm prosperity. Ultimately, cold storage does more than preserve crops—it sustains livelihoods.
Fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) cold stores can significantly reduce post-harvest losses, extend shelf life, improve food safety, and open access to both domestic and international markets. Without preservation, the entire agricultural value chain is weakened.
Preservation must not remain an afterthought—it should be the foundation of agricultural development efforts. To support cold storage construction, Nepal needs a farmer-focused cold chain program. Communities must be encouraged to jointly own cold rooms, especially in areas of high production. Solar-powered units offer viable solutions for rural, off-grid regions and should receive appropriate subsidies and technical assistance.
But storage alone is not enough; cold chain logistics—including refrigerated transport and market integration—are just as critical. Digital tools can help farmers locate available storage, monitor prices, and avoid panic selling that drives down incomes.
Government subsidies must also shift focus—from infrastructure construction to its operation, maintenance, and integration into the rural economy. Nepal’s challenge isn’t merely preventing food waste—but transforming preservation into empowerment for the hands that grow it.
While irrigation, fertilizer, and seed subsidies are widespread, cold storage must be recognized as essential agricultural infrastructure. Preservation is no longer a secondary concern—it is the cornerstone of farm prosperity. Ultimately, cold storage does more than preserve crops—it sustains livelihoods.
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