The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced a grant of Rs. 14 crore for the distant marketing and export of kinnow so as to ensure remunerative prices to the kinnow growers across the state.Addressing the progressive kinnow farmers and exporters during a workshop on pre and post harvest management in Kinnow for Exports and Distant Marketing jointly organized by Horticulture Department and Punjab Agri Export Corporation Ltd. here at Hotel Shivalik View, Mr. Badal said that the state was committed to provide requisite infrastructure and marketing support to the kinnow growers so that they could compete with their peers not within the country but in international market also.Responding to the issues raised by the kinnow growers and exporters, the Chief Minister assured them that he would soon take up the matter with the Ministry of Agriculture, GoI to grant permission for fungicide laden wax to be used for waxing the kinnows as per international standards to qualify for export of their produce in the global market. Likewise, the Chief Minister also assured the local kinnow producers and exporters that he would soon take up the issue of getting special air conditioned rakes sanctioned from the Ministry of Railways and impress upon the Union Railways Minister to sanction these air conditioned rakes well in advance before the onset of marketing season of kinnow so as to enable them to market their produce to the distant places especially in southern parts of the country. The Chief Minister also called upon the farmers to further enhance export potential of kinnow to fetch better prices of their produce.
The Chief Minister further said that Punjab Kisan Vikas Chamber had been set up at Mohali with an investment of Rs.20 crore on the pattern of FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM to give suggestions and recommendations on various issues related to agriculture and allied farming like Animal husbandry, bee keeping, fishery, horticulture etc to make the agriculture profession economically viable and financially sustainable. Mr. Badal further said that a need was felt to have such organization since long to provide an interactive platform to the farmers so as to enable them to take up their issues at an appropriate level for the quick resolution to their satisfaction. He said that the chamber would engage the services of renowned agriculture experts for seeking their advice on matters related to the agriculture sector, who would help the chamber to contest their claims vigorously with the central and state government in a meaningful and result oriented manner. Likewise, legal advice on certain contentious issues with regard to inter-state marketing and export policies would be sought from legal experts.
The Chief Minister also announced to send progressive farmers in Horticulture, Agriculture and allied farming abroad so as to enable them to update their knowledge about latest techniques in these fields besides enhancing the export potential. He said this workshop would go a long way to apprise the kinnow growers to enhance their income manifold by adopting latest techniques of its production, grading, waxing and packaging as per international standards to fetch better prices in the global market.In his welcome address, MD Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Mr. KS Pannu said that Punjab has nearly 20,000 kinnow producers in the state producing quality kinnow in the areas of Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Bathinda. He said 5,000 MT of kinnow were exported to Russia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Dubai from the state during last year and we have fixed an export target of at least 15,000 MT during the current year.Prominent amongst others who were present resent on the occasion included; MD Punjab Agri Export Corporation Ltd. Mr. KS Pannu, Director Horticulture Dr. Gurkanwal Singh, Chairman PUNGRAIN Mr. DS Grewal, Chairman Punjab Kisan Vikas Chamber & Punjab Agro Juices Ltd. Mr. Kulwant Singh Chauni, Assistant General Manager Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Mr. N.C. Lohakare, Dr. H.S. Rattanpal and Mr. BVC Mahajan, both senior Horticulturists from PAU, Ludhiana besides prominent kinnow exporters and growers; Mr. Surinder Charaya, Mr. Pradeep Dawra, Mr. Nagesh Laxman Shetty and Mr. Tarun Arora.