Haryana to have network of agro shopping malls

Chandigarh, Jul 21 (UNI) The Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) plans to give a big boost to agro-marketing in the state by setting up a network of agro shopping malls, specific commodity hubs, cold chain facilities and flower market so as to benefit the farmers as well as consumers.

Haryana Agriculture Minister H S Chatha said the HSAMB will shortly commence the construction of agro shopping malls at Panipat, Karnal and Gurgaon at an estimated cost of Rs 97 crore.

One such mall is being constructed at Panchkula at a cost of Rs 40 crore.

He said setting up of a flower market at Gurgaon has already been approved in principle and it will boost floriculture in the region.

He said specific commodity hubs for fruit and vegetables would also be set up in a phased manner. In the first phase these will come up at Shahbad for potato, Abubshahar for Kinnow, Jhajjar for onion, Yamunanagar for mango, Karnal for tomato and Sonepat for mashroom.

There is also a plan to set up processing units for various commodities in a phased manner so as to have grading, packing and primary processing of horticulture production, which will result in value addition for the produce and delivery of quality and hygenic products for the consumers.

Also, multi commodity-hubs will also be set up at nine places-- Faridabad, Hisar, Jind, Pehowa, Gurgaon, Rohtak, Panipat, Panchkula and Narnaul.

UNI MA MMS AK RN2031