CM flags off kinnows for export

Chandigarh, Feb 16 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today flagged off the first container of kinnows for export as part of a pilot project to sell 200 tonnes of the citrus fruit to the West Asia.

The citrus fruit is grown over an area of 5041 hectares, largely in Dabwali, Sirsa and Fatehabad areas, and its production is touching 70,000 tonnes. Incentives will be given to the export companies on actual exports from Haryana against export documents produced by it.

The state agricultural marketing board is also in the process of arranging for exports of mushroom, garlic and potato. With a production of 6044 tonnes during 2005-06, Haryana contributes nearly 10 per cent to the national production of mushrooms.

The board is arranging aid and assistance in various manner including transport services and supply of packaging material for the farmers under the Farmers' Marketing Assistance Scheme.

With the help of National Horticulture Mission (NHM), special commodity hubs of tomato (Karnal), potato (Kurukshetra), onion (Jhajjar), kinnow (Sirsa) and mushroom (Sonepat) are being opened at a total cost of Rs 70 crore.

The approvals have been received and tenders are being floated.

NHM will provide 25 per cent subsidy.

For the world class flower market proposed to be opened in Sonepat, a state government is planning to dispatch a team to Holland on a study tour, an official release said today.

Auction halls are to be constructed in a proposed flower market in Panchkula, adjoining Chandigarh as floriculture, a high revenue earner, is a thrust area for the state government.

UNI