Haryana plans commodity hubs

The Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB), in an attempt to provide value-added facilities like sorting, grading-lines and packaging to the farmers, has decided to set up commodity hubs in the state. These hubs would also enhance the export possibilities of the produce.

While stating this here today, a spokesman of the HSAMB said the commodity hub for potato would be set up at Shahbad, for tomato at Karnal, for onion at Jhajjar, for mushroom at Sonepat and for keenu at Sirsa.

He said the commodity hubs would provide assistance for grading/sorting and packing material and transportation facility would be provided to the farmers, besides providing them training in post-harvest management practices and better marketing techniques. Financial assistance for buying cutting/grading/handling equipment etc would also be provided to them.

He said that the HSAMB had also implemented export promotion policy aiming at giving major impetus to the export of fruits, flowers, vegetables and other agricultural products from Haryana. The policy would seek to cover all the critical areas and involve all stakeholders in exporting agricultural/horticultural produces.

Under the policy, stress would also be laid on the improvement of the quality of produce and promoting formation of farmer groups, he added.