HSAMB to develop spl commodity hubs

Chandigarh July 14 (UNI) The Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) will develop special commodity hubs for potato, tomato, mushroom and kinnow in the state.

An official spokesman said that 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 under National Horticulture Mission.

He said 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. In order to reduce perishability of fruits and vegetables, cool chambers were being provided. It would also develop a complete cool chain from farm to retailer.

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

In order to upgrade the value of the farmers' crop with the help of NHM, all kinds of facilities of grading, sorting, storing and packaging would be provided at these hubs.

He said the Board had also decided to launch a scheme 'Farmers Marketing Assistance Scheme' to ensure better income to the farmers by adding value to their produce.

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

UNI