Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to develop the Kandi region as the “Herbal hub” of the country, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today assured fulsome support and cooperation to progressive farmers and Self Help Groups (SHGs) for technique innovation and marketing of their products. Interacting with the progressive farmers of the region after visiting the newly upgraded Agro-processing unit here today, the Chief Minister said that Kandi area of the state has a rich bounty of natural resources which needs to be tapped for the economic progress of the state. Mr Badal said that if the farmers of the area make the optimum utilization of the products like Mango, Amla and others herbs produced in the area then it could be developed as a “Herbal hub” of the country.
Appreciating the agro processing units in form of self help groups which were engaged in processing of fruits, vegetables and herbs, the Chief Minister said that these were emerging as trend setters in the state by producing quality pickles, squashes, juices, chutneys, Trifla, aam chur and others. Assuring all technical assistance and cooperation to the SHGs, Mr. Badal said that the state government was imparting training to the self help groups engaged in food processing industry through key institutes like Mysore Food Technological Preserving Centre and PAU so as to equip them with better technical training in their field. He further said that the state government was ready to make every endeavor for boosting up the prospects of the Food processing industry in the region. Mr. Badal said that the need of hour was to evolve a proper marketing of these high quality products both within the country and abroad.
The Chief Minister said that in order to provide marketing mechanism for the products manufactured by the SHGs they have asked the premier cooperatives like Markfed and Milkfed to explore the feasibility of selling these quality products. He also said that the state government was also ready to allot land to the SHGs if they were desirous of setting up their outlets in different cities of the state. Mr. Badal also suggested the farmers to sell their products at the big fairs held in the state.The Chief Minister was accompanied by MLAs Mrs. Sukhjit Kaur Sahi and Mr. Surinder Singh Bhullewalrathan, Chairman Zila Parishad and President Youth Akali Dal (Doaba Zone) Mr. Sarabjot Singh Saabi, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema, Deputy Inspector General of Police Kunwar Vijay Partap and Deputy Commissioner Mrs. Anindita Mitra.