Punjab: Markfed may venture into non-veg food

Rupnagar, Jan 30: Markfed is exploring the possibility of venturing into the production and export of the non-vegetarian food products, Markfed Managing Director Gurinder Singh Grewal said here today.

''We are already producing and exporting vegetarian food products and keeping in view the demand of NRIs, we are exploring the possibility of trying our hands in manufacturing and exporting non vegetarian food products also, '' Mr Grewal told mediapersons here.

However, final decision in this regard would be taken after looking into all the aspects in this regard, he added.

Mr Grewal was here to inspect the work regarding the upgradation of Markfed's grain testing laboratory to food testing laboratory with the grant of Rs 1.43 crore sanctioned by Union ministry of food processing.

He informed that the trial tests of upgraded food testing laboratory at Rupnagar had been started and it would be made fully functional after its inauguration by Punjab Minister for Cooperation Capt Kanwaljit Singh in second week of February.

He said the upgraded laboratory, which was one of the best laboratories of the country, was capable for testing and certification of broad parameters like analysis of micro organism, food quality, food additives and alfatoxins, pesticides residues, heavy metals nutritional facts, finger printing of basmati in sectors like agri products, milk and milk based products, fresh/processed fruits and vegetables, cereal and cereal based products, honey based products, malt based products, soil and water etc.

He said latest equipments imported from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, United States and Australia had been installed in the laboratory, which would give authentic quality report of the tested food samples.

He further informed that Markfed was setting up a fruit and vegetable processing plant at Ludhiana at a cost of about Rs 25 crores adding the study in this regard had been completed.

Mr Grewal informed that Markfed's rice mill at Nawanshahr would be converted in to state of art Basmati mill for producing good quality basmati to meet the international requirement.

He also informed that Markfed is also going to start the export of mustard oil and Pickle to the Middle East countries.

In reply to a question, Mr Grewal said that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had convened a high-level meeting on February 3 to discuss the issue regarding the resumption of construction work of Theme Park-'Saka Chamkaur ' at Chamkaur Sahib.

He said Markfed, which was executing agency of the project, wanted to complete the prestigious project, which was lying incomplete due to non-availability of funds.

Earlier, Mr Grewal inspected the upgraded food laboratory of the Markfed.

UNI