The Punjab Government has given in principle approval to set up a Vegetable Export Trade Mission on the pattern of Maharastra to give logistic support to the vegetables and fruit growers of the state for exporting their produce in the international market.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a series of meetings with exporters and growers of vegetables and fruits, floriculturists and potato growers from all over the state here today.
Badal directed the Punjab Agri Export Corporation to work out the modalities to constitute Vegetable Export Trade Mission to enable fruit and vegetable growers to export their produce in a result-oriented manner.
He said the mission would help the farmers from undue harassment due to procedural hurdles involved in the export of vegetables and fruits.
The Chief Minister also agreed to the proposal of exporters to send their delegation to Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Uzbekistan and some Central Asian countries to explore export potential there.
He deputed the Additional Managing Director of the agri export corporation to visit the farms of progressive vegetable and fruit growers to study export prospects from the point of view of internationally accepted quality norms.
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In another significant decision, the Chief Minister also gave a nod to set up a litchi estate at Pathankot and a pear estate at Amritsar on the pattern of the existing citrus estates in Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur and Muktsar districts to promote the quality production of fruit and their marketing.
Badal called upon floriculturists, vegetable and fruit growers to organise themselves by forming their respective associations and get themselves registered to enable the state agricultural and horticulture department to prepare a blue print for overall development of the sector.
Responding to issues raised by floriculturists, Badal asked the Director Floriculture of Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana to impart training to the floriculturists and develop a nursery for production of gladiolus bulbs besides importing cormels from Holland and Brazil.
The official was asked to study the entire project to be funded by the state government and submit a report to the Financial Commissioner, Development, within 15 days.
Badal emphasised the need to develop a quarantine zone to ensure production of disease-free quality bulbs and cormels. He asked the Financial Commissioner Development to explore ways and means to declare tissue culture as an agriculture activity.
The chief minister also announced a subsidy of 25 per cent to pack houses in addition to Centre’s 25 per cent for a cluster of 100 such units.