Kochi (Kerala), Feb 3 : To serve better quality processed foods, vegetables, fruits and seafood to the 2.5 million expatriates living in West Asia, Europe and America, the Cochin International Airport, which remained in the forefront of setting new models to other airports has come out with one of the largest Center for Perishable Cargo
(CPC) in India.

This newly inaugurated center will have state of the art advance technology facilities and be able to handle more than 25000 Mts. annually.

The CPC is a joint effort of Government of India through Agricultural and Food Promotion Export development Authority (APEDA) contributing Rs. 13.20 crore and Government of Kerala through CIAL being built at a total cost of Rs. 24.00 crore.

The local farmers cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, locally available fishes, livestock, poultry and small exporters of Kerala will become the ultimate beneficiaries of the
22,000 sq ft center, as they can get better prices for their locally cultivated and processed farm products.

"As the country is poorly represented in the world market of perishable cargo because of lack of infrastructure, this center at the airport would be part of the APEDA''s and the State Horticulture Mission''s efforts to set up key infrastructure facilities for better export competitiveness," said Dr. K. Prathapan, Director, State Horticulture Mission, Kerala.

The center will have all modern infrastructure facilities and fully automated system for ensuring export of farm fresh products to the worldwide markets.

The entire area is divided into three main segments consisting of receiving bay, weighment and computerized examination bay and security cum shifting bay.

Serving a link for a cold chain for export of perishable cargo, there will be six chambers of varying temperature and humidity control facility at required levels need for each commodity.

The export quality perishable cargo will be moved from the fields to the pack houses and later to the airport in reefer vehicles.

The center would minimize the rejection of the any perishable cargo from the export market, said George Koshy, officer on special duty, CIAL.

Currently, CIAL handles eight to nine thousand tons of cargo a year.

The CPC is expected to give a considerable boost to the movement of perishable cargo and to the airport in becoming a future cargo hub in attracting global players and direct international cargo flights.

CAIL is the first greenfield airport setup with investments from nearly 10,000 Non Resident Indians from 30 countries as its stakeholders on a public private partnership
(PPP) model in civil aviation infrastructure sector in India.

The airport operates direct non-stop international flights to Abu Dhabi, Colombo, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah, and Singapore. (ANI)