Markfed to up exports by 25%

As a result of increasing demand of its canned "Sarso ka saag" in foreign countries, Markfed has increased its export target by more than 25 per cent in the current financial year.

"Last year we exported canned vegetables worth Rs 4 crore and this year it is expected that the export figure will cross Rs 5.5 crore, as caned sarso ka saag is in great demand in the countries including the UAE, Canada, Australia, Italy and the US, where large number of Punjabi population," Markfed Canneries General Manager SPS Grewal said.

"Although we export several canned vegetables including saag, dal makhani, 90 per cent of the export order include only saag," he added.

He said for the production of saag, Markfed has signed an agreement for contract farming on about 250 acre of land in the adjoining districts of Doaba region.

The saag crop begins to arrive in the factory from November 1 and the target is to export as many as 15 lakh cans of saag in the current season.