Chandigarh, November 22 – A High level delegation of Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board led by Haryana Agriculture Minister, Mr. O.P. Dhankar will visit China from November 24 to 29, 2015 to study in depth the level of infrastructure, systems, methods etc being provided in the Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Markets of China.
Mr. Dhankar gave this information while addressing a press conference here today. He said that China has significantly improved in terms of Post harvest losses in Fruits and Vegetable in recent years and resultantly income of farmers has increased. This has brought in rural prosperity and has made China to hold number one position in the production of horticulture products in the world. The level of infrastructure in Wholesale markets has improved exports in a big way and which is why today Japan and Korea largely depend on imports from China.
He said that a modern terminal market aiming to be one of the largest markets in the world is being developed at Ganaur, Sonepat of Haryana which would be made functional in the next one and a half to two years. It would be developed according to the conditions favourable to Haryana. There is a possibility of daily arrival of more than 20 thousand trucks carrying products in this market. Emphasis would be laid on better packaging, minimising losses and better transportation management. A special purpose vehicle would be developed for this purpose.
He said that delegation will visit cities of Beijing, Zhengzhou and Shenzhen for two days each to study the markets there. During the visit it would also participate in the 8th China International Agro-Product Trade Fair from November 27 to 29, 2015 at Zhengzhou, China on the invitation of Agricultural Wholesale Market Association (CAWA).
In a reply to a question, the Minister said that on an average 30 per cent damage is caused to fruits and vegetables in the mandis in Haryana whereas it is just one per cent in Saint Charles Market, France, the world’s biggest market.
While replying to a question, he said that the decision of previous state government to set up four agro malls in Panchkula, Karnal, Panipat and Rohtak was unsuitable as there is huge difference in marketing of agricultural and industrial produce. Marketing of agricultural produce through Agro Mall is not practical. He said that countries of America and Europe give huge subsidy to their farmers. Also, there is a provision to give subsidy amounting to crores of rupees to farmers in India. The reason for this is that agriculture produce comes under the Essential Commodities Act and their prices are kept low. He said that now the government is considering on the proposal of using these Agro Malls as general malls, but the revenue generated through these malls would be utilized for the welfare of farmers.
On being asked about special girdawari to assess the damage caused by whitefly to cotton and other crops, he said that the work of girdawari has been completed and the distribution of compensation would be started within next 15 to 20 days.
On being asked about allegation levelled by opposition regarding scams in paddy procurement, the Minister said that the allegations are false and baseless. Every year paddy is procured by rice millers on behalf of government agencies and for which necessary quota is prescribed. He said that farmers after harvesting their paddy through Combine harvester bring the same hastily to the market with moisture content of more than 17 per cent to sell it immediately. The ‘ardhti’ and the farmer reach at consent on cut due to higher moisture content which has been in practice since long. He said that for the first time, 1509 PUSA variety was procured at Minimum Support Price of Rs 1450 per quintal. He said that the price of basmati rice is fixed according to the demand of the international markets. He said that so far no farmer has given complaint against any ‘ardhti’ and if any complaint is received then the license of the ardhti concerned would be cancelled.
When asked to comment about wheat and DAP fertilizer for Rabi crops, he said that so far 12.50 lakh quintal wheat seeds have been sold whereas during the tenure of previous government, this much quantity of seeds was sold during the entire sowing season. He said that sufficient amount of 3.50 lakh Metric Tonnes of fertilizer is available.
On being asked about the crushing season of sugar mills, the Minister said that Sugarcane Board has given time for starting the sugar mills and all mills would start crushing on the prescribed time. Usually, crushing begins in the last week of November or first week of December. He said that rate of sugarcane in Haryana is maximum in the country.
On being asked about the other members of the Delegation, he said that the delegation consists of Mr Ghanshyam Dass, Mr. Sukhvinder Singh Sheoran, and Mr. Pawan Kumar Saini, all MLAs Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture, Sh.V.S. Kundu and Chief Administrator, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Mr. Anil Malik.
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