Exporters demand better cargo facilities

Despite seeing a surge in the cargo exports from Trichy airport, exporters from various parts of South India are unhappy with the storage facilities available for perishable goods. A sudden shower in the city a few days ago made many exporters face heavy losses as the goods got drenched in rainwater.

The Trichy airport has been growing at a tremendous pace when compared to other airports in the country. The airport introduced cargo facilities three years ago and cold storage facilities a year back. The old terminals of the airport were changed into the cargo terminals which totally measured up to 4,000 sq ft. With a number of people involved in farming in the southern districts and at least a handful of international flights touching down the districts, several exporters grabbed the opportunity and tried to export perishable goods, which majorly included vegetables. After witnessing a surge in the exports, a cold storage for vegetables and perishable goods was also commissioned at the cargo terminal of the international airport. A five-tonne cold storage chamber was established with the financial assistance from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), however exporters complain that there is not even a basic shelter to protect the goods that are left to rot during rains.

Exporters complain that as the booking is done in advance, the goods are exported based on the payload of flights to the respective countries. According to the president of air courier operator's association south India, Sayeed S A, At least 10 tonnes of perishable items leave the airport to south east asian countries on a monthly basis. "However, during rainfall, the entire lot gets wasted and the exporters are unable to cope up with the losses. It was assured that a huge canopy will be erected in front of the cargo complex for the convenience of the exporters but everything remains only in papers," he said.

A senior officer belonging to the Trichy airport seeking anonymity said that there are plans for expanding the airport and cargo will also be a part of it. "But as a temporary measure, a solution would be soon found for exporters," he saidSource