Badal announces measures to promote floriculture

In a bid to give impetus to floriculture, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced a slew of measures, including a proposal to grant 50 per cent subsidy on protected cultivation of flowers.
The CM okayed proposal to grant the subsidy on the total cost of additional infrastructure under the protected cultivation of flowers, herbs and salads.
The CM directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Development) to prepare a comprehensive plan for setting up of cold chain in the clusters under protected cultivation, a spokesperson for the CMO said here.
Badal also decided to establish a market intelligence wing in the horticulture department to study advanced planning and marketing support to be given to farmers for the production of flowers and horticulture crops.

He asked the Mandi Board to provide adequate space to the flower producers for marketing their produce in the new air conditioned fruits and vegetables market at Mohali.
The CM approved 24-hour power supply on Agriculture Power (AP) tariff to the flower producers undertaking protected cultivation (green/net houses) without charging any basic expenses.