Rs 67 cr proposal for fruit and vegetable markets

Chandigarh, Feb 8 (UNI) The centre is considering a Rs 67 crore proposal by the Haryana government to set up a network of new fruit and vegetable markets.

The proposal also provides for packaging and storage facilities for the crops of citrus, potatoes and onions to the farming community of Haryana, Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha said today.

He said diversification of crops was one of the top priority areas of the present government to help the farmers in improving their financial status.

Commodity based hubs were being set up at Kurukshetra, Karnal, Jhajjar, Sonepat and Sirsa for the crops of potato, tomato, onion, mushroom and kinnow respectively in order to give impetus to cultivation of these crops in the state.

Mr Chatha said that for helping the sugarcane growers, a new Sugar mill was being established at Assand besides providing ''highest'' price for their crops.

To tap the vast potential of post harvest and food processing business, the state government had set up two Food Parks at Rai over 116 acres in Sonepat district and at Saha over 80 acres in Ambala district.

State-of-art laboratories were being set up in these Food Parks to test and certify the quality of produce, he added.

UNI