Haryana to develop special commodity hubs

New Delhi July 15: Haryana would develop special commodity hubs for potato, tomato, mushroom and kinnow in the state.

A Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) spokesman here 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 (NHM).

He said that 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.

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.

The spokesman 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 NHM. 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 that 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.

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 this, 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 NHM Project.

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 NHM.

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 that Agri-business and information centres at Hisar and Sirsa have been set up to act as knowledge hub for the farmers which are providing information on market, agronomic practices and helping them in improving the quality of agricultural products.

UNI