Punjab Agri Board to soon float global tenders for AC mandi

The Agricultural Marketing Board of Punjab, popularly known as the Mandi Board, would float global tenders for operation and maintenance of the "state-of-the-art" air-conditioned fruit and vegetable market at Mohali. It is the first such market in the northern part of the country, constructed over an area of 12.5 acres at a cost of nearly Rs 50 crore.

The ultra-modern market was inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in February. The most important feature of this market-yard is the separation of the wholesale trade area from the retail one. Besides, there is a separate zone where the farmers could sell their produce directly to the consumers. In this market yard, the auction of the produce at the time of sale would be conducted electronically and for accurate measurement, electronic weigh scale would be used. This was the first time in any fruit and vegetable market yard in the state where the entire sale procedure would be monitored electronically. The market would also provide refrigerating facility and a fruit-ripening chamber to the farmers.

Speaking to Business Standard, a senior official in state agriculture marketing board said, "Since the mandi is one of its kind in the north, we feel the traditional system of maintainance and operation won't be feasible. Also, we do not have an expertise in running these kinds of mandis. So, we have decided to hand over the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the mandi to either the co-operative sector or any private player. We have entrusted the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) as our consultant. They will assist us in making the tender documents, floating the tender and selection of eligible player."

He added the area of operation of the selected player would not be restricted to the air-conditioned market alone, but the player would be responsible for providing linkages to the farmers within a catchment area of about 50 acres. This would ensure the farmers need not travel to the mandi to sell their produce. "The selected player can operate on hub-and -spoke model by opening collection centres in villages and linking it to the main mandi, thus providing linkages to the farmers, " the official added.

He further said such markets would be soon set up in other cities like Ludhiana and Amritsar. The remaining cities would be covered gradually in the second phase to ensure hassle-free and smooth marketing facilities to the farmers and traders, including both retailers and wholesalers. It will give a boost to the cultivation of fruit and vegetables as part of the state government's flagship programme of crop diversification.