HSAMB launches 'Farmers Marketing Assistance Scheme'

Chandigarh, July 13 (UNI) The Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) has launched 'Farmers Marketing Assistance Scheme' to ensure better income to the farmers by adding value to their produce.

A HSAMB spokesman said the decision to launch the scheme was taken in a meeting of the Board held here today.

He said under the scheme, the farmers would be given financial assistance for purchase of equipments, tools required for proper harvesting, handling, storage and packaging of their crops.

Besides, the farmers would also be eligible for financial assistance to transport their produce to the markets where post harvest management facilities would be provided by the Board under Rs 67 crore National Horticulture Mission (NHM) Project.

He said the board also had a proposal of developing post harvest management facilities at collection centres in the rural areas which had been submitted to the National Horticulture Mission.

In order to upgrade the value of the farmers' crop with the help of NHM, special commodity hubs for potato were being developed at Shahbad, for tomato at Karnal, for mushroom at Sonepat, for onion at Rewari and Jhajjar and for Kinnow at Sirsa.

All kinds of facilities of grading, sorting, storing and packaging would be provided at these hubs.

He said in order to reduce perishability of fruits and vegetables, cool chambers were being provided under NHM. It was also proposed to develop a complete cool chain from farm to retailer.

Initially, 15 markets including special commodity hubs and multi commodity hubs had been taken under this project in the first phase. In the second phase, this would be extended upto collection centres and finally it would be linked with terminal market. He said that Agri-business and information centres at Hisar and Sirsa had been set up to act as knowledge hub for the farmers which were providing information on market, agronomic practices and helping them in improving the quality of agricultural products.

UNI