In response to the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) raising concerns over the absence of an artificial fruit ripening chamber in North Goa, the Agriculture Department has initiated the construction of a facility with a 60-tonne daily capacity at the Mapusa market yard. The project is expected to be completed by Ganesh Chaturthi this year.
Agriculture Director Sandeep Fol Dessai toldO Heraldo, “There must be artificial ripening chambers in each taluka. The fruits have to be ripened scientifically. We have premises under the Goa Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Board in each taluka where trading is promoted.”
He added, “When we learnt that fruits are not being ripened scientifically at Mapusa or its nearby areas, we carried out an inspection and found that the fruits are being ripened in the most unhygienic way. The ripening was not scientific.”
The inspection also revealed the use of harmful chemicals by some vendors. Following this, the FDA conducted multiple raids, prompting the Goa Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Board to initiate the process of setting up a ripening chamber at Mapusa. An e-tender was issued, and construction has begun.
“The ripening chamber will have four compartments. Currently, the market receives 8–10 tonnes of bananas daily, and this rises to around 15 tonnes during festive seasons like Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, or Christmas. Considering this, we have decided to construct four ripening chambers of 15 tonnes each at the Mapusa market yard,” Fol Dessai said.
“If everything goes well, then the chambers will be ready for use by Ganesh Chaturthi this year. The chambers are being constructed at a cost of Rs 2 crore, out of which 35 per cent will be borne by the Centre, and the remaining by the State,” he added.
It’s worth noting that the FDA recently intensified raids across Goa, conducting approximately 80 inspections covering over 350 establishments across North and South Goa within the past nine months. A senior FDA official previously toldO Heraldothat while South Goa has three artificial ripening chambers, North Goa currently has none.
Banana wholesalers and fruit dealers at the Mapusa Sub Yard Market have long been demanding the establishment of a ripening chamber within the market premises. They have emphasised the urgent need to modernise the Mapusa Sub Yard Market—one of North Goa’s largest wholesale agri-markets.
Despite significant expansion over the past four decades, the market continues to operate with outdated infrastructure and lacks essential facilities for both traders and vendors. Spanning approximately 21,000 square metres, the market hosts over 100 traders dealing in fruits, vegetables, coconuts, and other agricultural produce, alongside numerous small-scale vendors.