To reduce post-harvest losses and encourage value addition both at the farm and industrial level, the Punjab Government on Sunday set up a committee to coordinate efforts in development and adoption of techniques and technologies.
The Committee would function to consider and review post-harvest techniques and technologies developed by the Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology for adoption and commercial application both at farm and industrial level, to integrate techniques and technologies of management of post-harvest losses and value addition, said the State Agriculture Minister Jathedar Tota Singh.
Besides, the panel will also function to ensure transfer of technologies to farmers and industries for their commercial application, he said.
The Minister said that the mandate of the Committee includes formulation, implementation and management skill development programme in post-harvest management technologies and food processing to be executed jointly by CIPHET, Punjab Agriculture University and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU).
The Committee would also encourage development of agro and food processing clusters with cool chain infrastructure and ensuring integration of production, processing and marketing.
In addition, he said that it will also encourage scientific warehousing of agricultural and horticultural produce with a view to achieve the objective of reduction in post-harvest losses; and to carry out any other activity to achieve objectives of effective implementation or adoption of post-harvest technologies to reduce losses and value addition to the crops for the benefit of all stakeholders including farmers, industrialists, researchers, scientists.
Headed by Financial Commissioner Development as its chairman, the committee would have vice-chancellors of PAU, GADVASU, CIPHET Director, Union Ministry of Agriculture joint secretary member, Punjab Food Processing Industries’ secretary, as its members. Punjab Agro Industries Corporation limited’s managing director would be Member Convener.