Today, post-harvest losses of perishable foods are high, one reason being the lack of cold storage solutions in countries in the region. Most crops are only available seasonally, and the lack of local manufacturers of cooling technologies, inadequate financing options, and access to electricity does not allow farmers to take full advantage of their activities during the low season. Do you want to make Cold storage investment in India? Do not miss to go through the following guide.
An opportunity for entrepreneurs who want to offer conventional cold storage or green energy, more suited to rural areas lacking electricity.
The necessary knowledge:
There are several types of cold room installations, namely combined cold rooms (for several types of food), industrial cold rooms, and modular cold rooms (a type of small cold room that can be broken down into modules for better adaptation to refrigerated storage needs).
The specificities of a cold room take into account the dimensions of the cold room, the humidity of the storage space, the products to be stored, the capacity of the storage unit, the temperature required (cold, negative, or multi -temperatures), insulation material, refrigeration capacity.
There is a wide variety of food choices such as fruits, poultry, fish, meat, vegetables. You can choose a product to start with and expand your service later.
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Cold storage investment in India- Where to get supplies?
There are many cold storage supply companies in India and from overseas manufacturers, but one should be sure to buy one from a reliable local manufacturer who has the technical expertise not only to make the machine and to sell it. But, also to offer a guarantee and after-sales service from installation to maintenance. You can get supplies from local cold chain companies.
How is self-storage by container advantageous?
The main advantage of the container is its modularity. If you have a good lot, you can add a large number of single-level containers to your space. Of course, it is possible to stack the containers together to add locations, but you will then have to consider specific arrangements for your customers so that they are able to load/unload their goods in the containers that may be located on a first or second level.
A container is an ideal tool for setting up this type of business. The demand for storage space is growing and the very structure of the container is optimal to ensure the perfect physical integrity of the goods of your future customers. Designed in steel with a minimum lifespan of 25 years at sea. That is to say with hundreds of transports and various manipulations depending on weather conditions, the container has exceptional durability and therefore a quality ratio/unbeatable price.
A good storage program should include daily checks. Make sure that the ventilation system controls and air registers are working properly, especially when it is very cold and there is a risk of ice accumulating.
Check the temperature of the air and tubers at various points in the warehouse with an accurate thermometer. To find the hottest temperature in the store, place a thermometer or temperature probe at a point 50 to 100 cm below the top of the pile.
Relative humidity can be checked at the same time with a hygrometer or psychrometer. Watch for signs of soft rot (a pungent smell like ammonia) and the presence of water in air vents or depressions and hot spots in the potato heap. Soft rot can now be detected very early on with the infrared thermometer.
How to find clients?
If you want to make Cold storage investment in India, you should find clients. A cold store offers several facilities ranging from fresh fruits and vegetables to pharmaceuticals and vaccines, including meat and poultry and frozen foods. It has a wide variety of clients, from small groups of farmers to large agricultural enterprises, canteens, market women, schools, fast food restaurants, hotels, malls, stores, supermarkets, restaurants.
Cold stores are essential to extend shelf life, market period, avoid overabundance. In addition, they play an important role in reducing the loss of perishable goods. They also help provide remunerative prices to producers and make agricultural products available to consumers at competitive and affordable prices. These advantages will be able to convince a clientele among farmers and agro-food processing.
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At what volume/time do we become profitable?
To make your business profitable, you can sell or rent cold stores. The profitability of a cold chain can be established from 3 and 5 years, but it may vary depending on our offer. As the rental is more suited to smallholders, a simple cash-at-the-cash business model can be applied, with farmers and retailers each paying an average of US $ 0.50 or more, to store a case for a day.
You can start with a Cold storage investment in India that can hold about three tonnes of perishable food, arranged in at least 150 units of 20 kg boxes, which is equivalent to an average monthly turnover of 2,250 USD, from which we must subtract the depreciation rate as well as the fixed and variable costs of the company.
