In a bid to tap the vast marketing potential of fruits and vegetables from the state both within the country and abroad, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave nod for setting up Advance Marketing Intelligence Wing for Horticulture in the state. A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister while presiding over a meeting with a delegation of Kinnow growers from the state here at Punjab Bhawan this afternoon.Taking part in deliberations the Chief Minister said that the hard working and resilient farmer of the state had left an indelible imprint in national food production by making the country self sufficient in food production. However, he said that now when the food production has reached a point of saturation the need of hour was to maximise fruit and vegetable production for supplementing the income of farmers. Mr. Badal said that though many progressive farmers have were making concerted efforts by adopting cultivation of fruits and vegetables but they were facing major challenges due to lack of marketing infra structure and techniques.
The Chief Minister envisioned that this Advance Marketing Intelligence Wing for Horticulture would fill in the gap to facilitate the farmers for marketing their products across the globe. He said that this Advance Marketing Intelligence Wing along with the reconstituted Post Harvest Technique centre at PAU Ludhiana would act as catalysts to bring fruit and vegetable revolution in the state. Mr. Badal said that besides these steps the state government would make every effort to boost the fruit and vegetable cultivation in the state.Acceding to the demand of Kinnow growers, the Chief Minister also announced that the state government would provide subsidy to the Kinnow growers for setting up small cold rooms along with their waxing centres, so that they could export Kinnows from state. Likewise, Mr. Badal also called up the Union Agriculture Minister Dr. Radha Mohan Singh over telephone to expedite the case of importing fungicides through Central Insecticide Bureau (CIB) so that Kinnow growers could get it well in time before their season to boost the export potential of crop. He also assured fulsome support and cooperation to Kinnow growers for their genuine demands.Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Managing Director Punjab Agro Mr. KS Pannu, MD PSIEC Mr. Amit Dhaka, Director Horticulture Dr. Gurkanwal Singh, Chairman Punjab Kisan Vikas Chamber & Punjab Agro Juices Ltd. Mr. Kulwant Singh Chauni, besides prominent kinnow exporters and growers.