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Mumbai : Around five pack houses would be set up in Punjab, a move to improve the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables. Apeda (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) has sanctioned Rs.5.35 crores to state-owned Punjab Agri Export Corporation Ltd (Pa grexco) for setting up five packing houses.
According to an official from Pa grexco, the setting up of these pack houses will increase the shelf-life of produce, fetch higher realisation to growers, enhance export from the state and will also give a boost to set up similar facilities in the private sector.
Though the time-frame to complete the setting up of these pack houses as set by Apeda is 18 months, Pa grexco has committed to operationalise them within a year.
The sites selected for the location of fruit and vegetable pack houses are based on the location of progressive growers, area under cultivation, potential for increase in area under fruits and vegetables, access to markets, and efforts made toward s distant marketing and exports.
Mushkabad (Ludhiana), Saholi, Lalgarh (Patiala), Kangmai (Hoshiarpur) and Babri (Gurdaspur) are the selected sites. Pack houses will have mechanical grading line, pre-cooling chamber, cold storage, and a reefer and pick up van.
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