Punjab’s chilli cultivators in need of processing plant

Ferozepur, June 1 (KNN) Stakeholders of Punjab’s agriculture and allied departments have agreed upon the requirement to set up a processing plant in the chilli belt of the state.

Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan convened a meeting of various stakeholders, including officials from Agriculture Department, Punjab Mandi Board, Punjab Agro Export Corporation and chilli cultivators at the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat in Chandigarh.

The speaker had earlier visited the border district last week during which the chilli cultivators had shared their grievances and concerns.

Sandhwan claimed that the cultivation of crop on around 40,000 acres in Ferozepur had reduced the state’s dependence on Mexico, the largest chilli producing country.

Marking it as a duty of the state government to set up a chilli processing plant in the region, he said with this facility, the chilli crop could be processed here and supplied for domestic consumption.

Sandhwan asked officials to explore feasibility of providing facilities such as processing plant and dryer to parch the chillies, besides setting up a research centre to develop new varieties and cold storage chain.

He said he would review the status after a month.

Further to encourage farmers for diversification, the Speaker asked Ranbir Singh, general manager, Punjab Agro Export Corporation, to involve farmers while fixing the price of the produce.  (KNN Bureau)