The Punjab Government has set up the Committee to coordinate efforts in development and adoption of techniques and technologies to reduce post- harvest losses and encourage value addition both at farm and industrial level. Disclosing this here today Punjab Agriculture Minister Jathedar Tota Singh said that the Committee would function to consider and review post-harvest techniques and technologies developed by Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology for adoption and commercial application both at farm and industrial level, to integrate techniques and technologies of management of post- harvest losses and value addition developed by CIPHET, PAU and GADVASU, to ensure transfer of these technologies to farmers and industries for their commercial application in post- harvest management of crops and value addition, to formulate, implement and manage skill development programme in post- harvest management technologies and food processing to be executed jointly by CIPHET, PAU and GADVASU.
Minister further said that committee would also encourage development of agro and food processing clusters with cool chain infrastructure and ensuring integration of production, processing and marketing. He said that committee would also encourage scientific warehousing of agricultural and horticultural produce with a view to achieve the stated objective of reduction in post- harvest losses; and to carry out any other activity to achieve the objectives of effective implementation/adoption of post- harvest technologies to reduce losses and value addition to the crops for the benefit of all stakeholders including farmers, industrialists, researchers, scientists, etc.
Minister said that Financial Commissioner Development, Punjab would be the Chairman of this committee. He further said that Vice Chancellor, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, Vice Chancellor, Guru Angand Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Director CIPHET, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture Member Government of India, Secretary Food Processing Industries, Punjab, Chandigarh would be members of the committee and Managing Director, Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Ltd. Chandigarh would be Member Convener. ‘The Committee may co-opt any other member to achieve its objectives’ he said.