Punjab is modernising the post-harvest care facilities in its mandis with facilities like cold storages, ripening chambers, packing chambers and mechanical grading lines.
The hi-tech cold storages and ripening chambers are being set up in 12 mandis of the state. These are Amritsar, Batala, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Bathinda, Moga, Nawanshahr, Sangrur, Ferozepur, Abohar and Phagwara. In addition, hi-tech mechanical grading lines for fruits and vegetables are being set up at eight mandis. In Jalandhar, Phagwara, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala and Moga, mechanical grading lines are being set up with special focus on potato grading. This is because these areas are the major potato-growing belt of Punjab.
Punjab government has a total outlay of Rs 13.72 crore for setting up the modern infrastructure at these mandis. Of this, the state government is contributing 75%, while 25% will be received from the Centre, as part of the National Horticulture Mission.
Talking to FE, secretary Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board Karamjit Singh Sra said these new facilities are being set up to shorten the time it takes for the produce to reach the end consumer, and also ensure its freshness and longer shelf-life.