Centre should provide financial assistance to make crop diversification a success in Punjab: Jathedar Tota Singh

Chandigarh, June 22, 2014:  Punjab Government to send a comprehensives plan to the central Government to start International flights from Punjab so that fruits and vegetables could be exported to other countries. Disclosing this here today Punjab Agriculture Minister Jathedar Tota Singh said that agriculture diversification could be successful in the state if farmers get good value for their produce. He said that centre should provide financial assistance for storage, marketing and transportation facilities of perishable crops to make crop diversification a success in the state.

Agriculture Minister said that international flight from Amritsar to London has been closed due to which export of vegetables has also suffered a lot. He has also asked the centre for revival of this flight which could be great support for export of vegetables.

Minister said that Punjab Government to submit a detailed report to the centre to attract farmers towards agriculture diversification which would include marketing strategy, storage facilities and transportation facilities for the diversified crops.

Minister talking about the exploitation of farmers by the private companies in the name of contract farming said that these companies backtrack when there is bumper crop production. He said that Punjab Government would make strict laws to check such frauds with the farmers. 

Minister said that proposal to establish permanent cargo at Amritsar International Airport has been sent to Airport Authority of India for providing land for the expansion of the existing temporary cargo into permanent cargo. He added that Punjab Government has also prepared a proposal for establishing ultra modern permanent cargo at International Airport, Chandigarh.

Jathedar Tota Singh said that Punjab Government has prepared a proposal for establishing the Mega Food Park at Ladowal near Phillaur which would soon be submitted to the Central Food Processing Ministry headed by Harsimrat kaur Badal. He said that total cost of this project would be 130 Crores out of which centre would contribute Rs 50 Crores.

Earlier in the day Kahan Singh Pannu MD Punjab Agro met Agriculture Minister and briefed him about the projects being carried out by the department to attract farmers for agriculture diversification. Pannu also briefed the Minister that Abohar & Hoshiarpur Food processing plants which were closed from last few years are now working at full swing.  He said that Minister has asked him to make specific plans for each diversified crop which could be implemented in the state.