CHANDIGARH: Punjab Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh Tuesday underlined the need for evolving Common Marketing Management in the form of 'Mega Food Park' in the cooperative sector for effective marketing of processed foods, fruits & vegetables.

He said that this strategy would ensure high value of crops to the farmers  and will help revitalize the stagnated agri sector of the State.

Capt. Singh was presiding over a high level meeting of the Cooperation Department convened here to review the presentation made by the representatives of M/S Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (ILFS), New Delhi regarding setting up of a Mega Food Park under the scheme of Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India. Capt. Singh said at present the state's agriculture scenario was not encouraging as it was facing lot of challenges due to various economic stresses faced by the farmers and it needs immediate attention for revitalization of agri sector by taking major initiatives in Cooperative sector, which is the backbone of agri sector.

Capt. Singh said that there was a need to evolve a dual system under which a major share of the crops needs to be processed and remaining be marketed through retail outlets. Most of the farmers in the state were small and marginal and the State Government would facilitate the farmers by creating quality infrastructure in order to motivate them for diversifying towards high value   crops including fruits&vegetables  and other fields like commercial dairying , food, vegetable and fruit production but it could be only possible by providing them assured marketing and setting up grading and collection centers at their nearest points and further through creation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SVP) at   Corporate level. Besides this, the federations should adopt professional approach to compete with the Corporate giants in the market and best available talent should be roped in to provide quality services which include end to end services including   backward linkages to the farmers.

 The Cooperation Minister also announced to set up a five-member task force with Additional Registrar Cooperative Societies, Managing Directors of Markfed, Milkfed and Sugarfed and Additional M.D. (Plants) as its member for suggesting ways and means in this project. They have been asked to prepare an action plan with concrete proposal for reshaping, revitalization   and strengthening of Cooperative Sector which would ensure proper marketing in a professional manner besides making a case to  be sent to Government of   India for getting one agri Cluster in the form of  Mega Food Park which the Central Govt. was likely to give subsidy to the extent of Rs 50 crore.  

Regarding the setting up of Mega Food Park in the State, Capt. Singh asked the representatives of ILFS Ltd. to coordinate with the state federations   specially Markfed,  Milkfed and Sugarfed and work out the modalities in detail.

On this occasion  S. S. Chahal, Deputy Secretary, Union Food Processing Industries Ministry informed that Govt. of India was setting up 5 clusters  in the   country and Punjab was welcome to bid for that.