Punjab demands special package for farmers
The AAP government has urged the Union government to allocate a special package to the state to compensate it for the industrial packages given to hill states by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
In view of the prevailing low prices of potato in the state, the Punjab government has directed the Punjab Agro and Markfed to effectively intervene in the market on 'no profit, no loss' basis to bail out the potato growers from the current crisis besides realising better prices for them.
Chairing an emergent meeting to take stock of the prevailing situation here at the Chief Minister's residence, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal decided to reduce the market fee and rural development fee (RDF) on potatoes from two per cent each to 0.25 per cent. In addition, Badal also decided to slash the rates of commission charged by the commission agents from five per cent to one per cent with immediate effect.
Badal also asked the Punjab Agro and Markfed to explore the feasibility of export potential of potatoes to Russia, Dubai, Iran, Sri Lanka and other countries for which the state government would subsidise the freight. Apart from this Agriculture department had also been directed to undertake distant marketing of potatoes in the other parts of the country to ensure better prices to the growers.
Advertisement
The CM also asked the Agriculture Department to ensure rational utilisation of storing capacity of cold stores across the state to curb the malpractices of hoarding in cold storage space.
It was also decided in the meeting to issue an advisory to the department of education and jails beside for other government institutions for optimum utilisation of potato in the mid day meal scheme and for the consumption of jail inmates for rich nourishment, which would also boost the sale of potato in the state.
Advertisement
