by Punjabnewswire4u
CHANDIGARH, OCT 14
Traditional marketing system of fruits
and vegetables is unfavorable for farmers as major share of consumer rupee is
pocketed by the traders. The farmers used to get low price for their produce
whereas the consumers had to pay higher price for poor quality products
available in the markets.
Disclosing
this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Agriculture Department said that
Punjab State Marketing Board had already started “farmers’s market”
with a view to give boost to the small farmers around cities so as to
provide direct access to the consumers, by eliminating the middlemen. It is
also known as the “Apni Mandi” because it belongs to both the farmers and the
consumers who can mutually help each other.
The spokesman said that offices of
different departments of Punjab Government relating to Agriculture at Sub
Divisional Headquarters were not concentrated at one place and farmers have to
shuttle from one corner of the town to another. The Board has initiated a
scheme for construction of Vikas Bhawans at all Sub-Divisional Headquarters.
The work on 18 such Vikas Bhawans has already been completed at a cost of Rs.
411.86 lacs. The Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Soil Conservation,
Animal Husbandry, Food and Civil Supplies,Fisheries, Food Corporation of India,
MARKFED and PUNSUP are planned to have their administrative offices located in
each of these complexes. Vikas Bhawans have been constructed at Sub Division
and Head Quarters in the State. These Vikas Bhawans have been constructed with
a view to house offices related to farmers under one roof at Ajnala, Tarn
Taran, Patti, Fazilka, Abohar, Nabha, Malerkotla, Batala, Dasuya, Phagwara,
Zira, Sunam, Barnala, Gurdaspur, Jagraon(Ludhiana), Mukatsar.
The
spokesman further said that Mandi Board has started the scheme of Grading
of Foodgrains & oilseeds in 89 markets of the state. Under this scheme
wheat, paddy, Toria (rape seed), Sarson (Mustard seed) and sunflower seeds are
graded in the market before auction. Samples are drawn from the heaps of the
produce for measuring different parameters, Such as moisture, dust and dirt,
trash, weevil led, shriveled and damaged grains, grains of other varieties and
other commodities and foreign matter etc. The grade cards are displayed on
heaps before auction. Grading staff has been go to trained from the Government
of India. The future programme includes laboratory analysis of important
quality factors of commodities. The buyer shall be encouraged to pay price to
the farmer on the basic of scientific information.
The
spokesman said that in order to encourage better price for better quality
product, Cotton Grading Scheme has been made operative. Visual grading was
undertaken in all the 25 important markets . Three modern laboratories have
been set up, one each at Rampuraphul, Malout and Mukatsar. Five more
laboratories are being set up at Bathinda, Mansa, Abohar, Kotkapura, Gidderbaha
with the help of Technology Mission on Cotton (Govt. of India). In these labs
different quality Para- meters of cotton like
fineness, maturity, strength, span length, ginning percentage & trash
contents are numerically tested. The basic objective of grading is to get the
proper price to producer and graded quality to purchaser . The grade is
assigned to the produce (Cotton) before its sale so that farmers and purchasers
stand educated about the quality of the produce ensuring remunerative price
commensurate with quality. It helps both the seller and the buyer to transact
the business on a dependable base. For farmers the grading tests are free
whereas from traders a nominal fee is charged.
The spokesman said Moisture Meters have also been provided in the mandis for reckoning the moisture content and to facilitate proper price fixation and settlement of disputes regarding quality. This helps farmers in getting appropriate prices of their produce. This helps Punjab markets are being used maximum for sale and purchase of wheat and paddy. These moisture meters are being used in a big way.
The spokesman said Moisture Meters have also been provided in the mandis for reckoning the moisture content and to facilitate proper price fixation and settlement of disputes regarding quality. This helps farmers in getting appropriate prices of their produce. This helps Punjab markets are being used maximum for sale and purchase of wheat and paddy. These moisture meters are being used in a big way.
The
spokesman said that Punjab Mandi Board has introduced new farmer's incentive
scheme in all the mandis of the State. Under this scheme, the Secretary Market
Committee will issue gift coupon to the seller farmers on production of J form.
One gift coupon will be given to the farmer selling each of 50 quintals of
agricultural produce (paddy and wheat). Draws will be held for each Market
Committee at its office twice a year.
The
spokesman said This scheme will be applicable for wheat and paddy produce only
and will be valid for the wheat form April 1 to May 31 and for paddy from
Sept. 15 to Dec. 15, There will be total 9 prizes for each Market Committee.
First prize will be of Rs. 50,000 , next 3 prizes for 35,000 each and last 5
prizes for 20,000 each.
The
spokesman said This scheme will encourage the farmers to bring their produce in
mandis, help in maintaining the proper sale records and will get also help to
encourage the farmer to get the sale price.
The
spokesman further said scheme was started for giving scholarships to the
poor and deserving students from rural areas through Punjab
Agricultural University,
Ludhiana at the
rate of Rs. 600/- per month. The total number of scholarships of different
classes in the College
of Veterinary Science and
Animal Husbandry and Kandi area (foothills) is 284. This goes a long way in
fostering interest of the students in agriculture and related subjects for
studies besides, promoting the cause of agricultural marketing
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