Punjab forms committee to prevent post-harvest crop losses

The Punjab government today constituted a high-level committee to coordinate efforts in development and adoption of techniques and technologies to reduce post-harvest losses of crops and encourage value addition both at farm and industrial level.
The Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Financial Commissioner Development, Suresh Kumar, an official spokesman said here.
Rice and wheat are the major crops of Punjab and both occupy about 2.65 million hectares area under cultivation.
"Due to unscientific post harvest technology being adopted by farmers the farm economy is taking a big hit during last few years and Chief Minister Punjab has directed Agriculture department to make coordinated efforts to reduce post harvest loses," he said.

He said that the committee would function to consider and review post harvest techniques and technologies developed by Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology for adoption and commercial application.
It will also integrate techniques and technologies of management of post-harvest losses and value addition development by Central institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology, Punjab Agricultural University and Guru Angand Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.
He also informed that committee would also encourage development of agro and food processing clusters with cold chain infrastructure and ensuring integration of production, marketing and processing.