Value chain actors who are considering investing in cold chain development in sub-Saharan Africa face challenges related to:

1. access to energy
2. maintenance (shortage of qualified staff and spare parts)
3. poor logistics arrangements
4. weak organization and implementation of controls for compliance with standards
5. relatively low traded volumes and weak organizational arrangements for value chain activities

The cost of a reliable cold chain is not economically sustainable unless production reaches a threshold in terms of volume and quality of products. Cold chains are also highly reliant on equipment maintenance, which requires qualified staff. However, the provision of training is feasible only when there are sufficient operating systems to justify investments in training and to ensure long-term employment.

Furthermore, key infrastructure and related services (electricity, transport, markets, etc.) should be upgraded to ensure that cold chain systems are effectively implemented and efficient. Incentives to promote investment and capacity building in key agrifood subsectors – support for land acquisition, private–public partnerships are also necessary.

Over the years, the state government of Karnataka, India has invested in creating port facilities, transport and communication, supply of ice and storage facilities both under State plan expenditure, through National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC) schemes and centrally sponsored schemes. About 90% of the marine fish production in the state comes from major ports. There are also minor fishing ports providing landing facilities to the small boats and traditional crafts. Though these fishing ports are well connected to the roadways, some of the basic amenities such as toilet, retiring room, potable water supply, and sanitation are found to be lacking. Malpe and Honnavar are the first fishing harbours, constructed with central government assistance. The highly perishable nature of fish, bulk production, diversity of production and consumption of fish commands ample facilities for processing and marketing. The infrastructure for handling and processing of marine fish in India includes freezing plants, canning plants, ice plants, fish meal plants, pre-processing centres and cold storage.