Govt sets up panel for potato, maize marketing strategy

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has set up a three-member committee to work out a marketing strategy for the benefit of maize and potato farmers in the state.

The committee, comprising additional chief secretary (cooperation), ACS (development) and chairman, Punjab State Farmers Commission, has been asked to submit its report by March 1. The panel constituted by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has been tasked with suggesting ways and means of providing marketing support for maize and potato crops to ensure that the farmers get remunerative prices, without wastage of these commodities, according to an official spokesperson.

Expressing concern over the losses suffered by farmers due to lack of proper marketing facilities for these crops, the CM has asked the committee to identify domestic and international markets for sale and supply of their produce at attractive prices. The committee has also been directed to explore the possibility of futures trading in these items to facilitate farmers in ensuring remunerative pricing with risk hedging.

“This would also encourage the farmers to opt for crop diversification in a big way, in line with the state government’s thrust on diversified cultivation as a means of rescuing them from their debt cycles,” he said.

The committee has been asked to give suggestions to spread awareness among potato growers about various varieties of the root to help them cultivate the varieties that are in demand by large multinational corporations such as McDonald’s and McCain Foods. On the issue of maize crop, Amarinder asked the committee to assess the possibility of ethanol production from maize/corn, as suggested by Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari.