Haryana state cooperative and marketing federation (Hafed) has set up a 14-metric-tonne-a-day turmeric processing plant at Radaur in Yamunanagar district, at the cost of Rs 1.64 crore.
This would enable the farmers of the district and the surrounding areas, to sell raw turmeric to the plant, and also get remunerative prices for their produce, an official spokesman said here on Monday .
With a view to encourage the growers, Hafed has also initiated the practice of contract farming of raw turmeric in Yamunanagar district.
The entire production of raw turmeric will be purchased from the contracted farmers for processing at the plant, at market rates.
An automatic packing machine has been installed in the plant for packing of turmeric powder, chilli powder and coriander powder.
The farmers of Yamunanagar district have been facing problems in marketing raw turmeric which is grown in the district as well as surrounding areas, as a supplementary crop. They have been demanding a turmeric processing plant in the area where acreage has been falling every year.
Hafed has also enlarged its wings in the financial and commercial capital of the country by adding first floor in its existing Warehouse Complex at Vashi, Navi Mumbai.
This was stated by financial commissioner and principal secretary, cooperation department, Haryana, Manik Sonawane after inaugurating first floor of Warehouse Complex at Navi Mumbai on Saturday.
He said that this additional storage capacity of 17, 880 sq ft has been added at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore.
Sonawane said the foundation stone of this floor was laid on July 18, 2008 and now with the additional capacity, Hafed will have a total storage capacity of 35,905 sq ft in the building.