Agro-processing complex comes up under PAU’s supervision

Ludhiana: Keeping in view the significance of agro-processing plants, a processing complex at village Mohi, district Ludhiana has been established under the aegis of All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Post-harvest Engineering and Technology (PHET) with technical assistance from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). It is owned by Sardar Jaswant Singh, son of Sardar Naurang Singh. This agro-processing plant includes a modern wheat flour milling unit, mini oil expeller with filtration unit and spice grinding unit. Around 100 farmers attended the inaugural ceremony of the complex.

Dr MS Alam, Principal Scientist-cum-Incharge, AICRP on PHET, Department of Processing and Food Engineering, PAU, observed, “Agro-processing plants at farm gate are the need of the hour for value addition of agricultural produce, entrepreneurship and to curtail post-harvest losses at village level.” He informed that PAU was imparting training and providing technical guidance and support to the rural population for the establishment of processing complex. He said that establishment of agro-processing complex (APC) at the farm gate will help in getting quality products, employment to rural youth, reducing post-harvest losses and achieving diversification concept in agriculture besides improving the economic and social status of farmers. He also appreciated the workmanship of Artesian Sardar Pritpal Singh.

Dr Mahesh Kumar, Head, Department of Processing and Food Engineering, also interacted with the participants and encouraged other farmers of the area to set up such plants in future as well. He appreciated the efforts made by Dr Alam and his team and informed that till date, around 313 APCs have been established throughout Punjab and are running successfully. He also highlighted that the department is encouraging KVK scientists with emphasis for popularizing the PAU concept of APCs for its wider adoptability throughout Punjab.