A new cold storage in Panchkhal valley of Kavreplanchowk district has brought new opportunities to farmers as the facility is helping them right at their doorstep. Panchkhal, about 50 kilometres from Kathmandu, is renowned for its vegetable and fruit production. Majority of its produce is supplied to the capital city. The Planchowk Bhagawati Cold Storage (PBCS, commissioned some one and half month back at Panchkhal VDC ward No.6, has brought happiness to thousands of farmers in the valley. The cold storage has the facility to store vegetables such as potato, ginger, tomato and fruits for up to a week, according to the proprietor Satya Narayan Prajapati. Giving details about the new facility, Prajapati said that the PBCS was established at an investment of 30 million rupees and occupies six ropanis of land. "Though people in the area have been engaged in vegetable farming since many years, there was no cold storage for storing their produce," he said. Recalling the difficulties of storage in previous years, Rana Bahadur Bohara, a local farmer at Teenpiple said the newly established cold storage would be a great help to farmers. Previously, farmers had to store even potato seeds in Bhaktpur or Balaju in Kathmandu. "It will reduce our hardship and save money as well," he added. Rudra Bahadur Baniya, VDC chairman is also now happy that farmers can produce more agricultural products since there is no fear over storage now. "The cold storage can not only store produce from the area, but can provide storage facilities to farmers from Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha district as well," he added.