Advance Marketing Intelligence Wing to be set up: Badal

Chandigarh, Aug 29 (PTI) To tap the marketing potentialof fruits and vegetables from the state, Punjab Chief MinisterParkash Singh Badal today gave his nod for setting up of anAdvance Marketing Intelligence Wing for Horticulture (AMIWH)in the state. The decision was taken by the chief minister whilepresiding over a meeting with a delegation of Kinnow growersfrom the state here today, said an official spokesman. He said now when food production has reached a point ofsaturation the need of the hour was to maximise fruit andvegetable production to supplement the income of farmers. Badal said though many progressive farmers were makingconcerted efforts by adopting cultivation of fruits andvegetables they were facing major challenges due to lackof marketing infrastructure and techniques. He envisioned that AMIWH would fill in gaps to facilitatefarmers for marketing their products across the globe. He said AMIWH along with the reconstituted Post HarvestTechnique centre at PAU Ludhiana would act as catalysts tobring fruit and vegetable revolution in the state. Acceding to the demand of Kinnow growers, the chiefminister also announced that the state government wouldprovide subsidy to Kinnow growers for setting up smallcold rooms along with their waxing centres, so that they couldexport Kinnows from state. Likewise, Badal also spoke to Union Agriculture MinisterRadha Mohan Singh requesting him to expedite the case ofimporting fungicides through the Central Insecticide Bureau(CIB) so that Kinnow growers could get it well in time, beforetheir season to boost export potential of the fruit. He also assured full support and cooperation toKinnow growers for their genuine demands. PTI CHS ANBTIR