Punjab announces incentives for potato growers

To enable potato growers to realise better price for their harvest in market, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday announced a slew of measures to help them market their crop.

The state has produced about 2.26 million tonnes of potatoes during the current season. The chief minister directed the Markfed and Punjab Mandi Board to take steps to assist farmers in marketing their bumper crop. He also asked Markfed to procure potatoes from the market to supply to other parts of the country. Badal also said a freight subsidy of Rs 200 a quintal would be paid through Markfed for export of potatoes to other countries and Rs 50 a quintal to other states.
 

The chief minister also approved to cut the market fee and rural development fee from two percent to 0.25 per cent till April 30 to facilitate buyers from the state markets. Similarly, a commission of one per cent would be charged by the commission agents on the transactions of potato crop during this period.

Badal also directed the officers to enhance the use of potatoes in cooked meals supplied under various government programmes. According to the decision, the use of potatoes in the Mid-Day Meal Scheme would be encouraged.