To tap the marketing potential of fruits and vegetables from the state, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on August 29, gave his nod for setting up of an Advance Marketing Intelligence Wing for Horticulture (AMIWH) in the state. The decision was taken by the Chief Minister while presiding over a meeting with a delegation of Kinnow growers from the state in Chandigarh, said an official spokesman.

He said now when food production has reached a point of saturation the need of the hour was to maximise fruit and vegetable production to supplement the income of farmers. Badal said though many progressive farmers were making concerted efforts by adopting cultivation of fruits and vegetables they were facing major challenges due to lack of marketing infrastructure and techniques.

He envisioned that AMIWH would fill in gaps to facilitate farmers for marketing their products across the globe. He said AMIWH along with the reconstituted Post Harvest Technique centre at PAU Ludhiana would act as catalysts to bring fruit and vegetable revolution in the state.

Acceding to the demand of Kinnow growers, the Chief Minister also announced that the state government would provide subsidy to Kinnow growers for setting up small cold rooms along with their waxing centres, so that they could export Kinnows from state.

Likewise, Badal also spoke to Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh requesting him to expedite the case of importing fungicides through the Central Insecticide Bureau (CIB) so that Kinnow growers could get it well in time, before their season to boost export potential of the fruit. He also assured full support and cooperation to Kinnow growers for their genuine demands.

Source: Indian Express

Image Courtesy: Economic Times