LADHOWAL( LUDHIANA ): Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal Wednesday called for a revolutionary break from outdated governmental and popular attitude to agriculture and said that only an 'out of the box' approach could save the farm sector from the looming crisis. 

"The era of green revolution is behind us. We need to move on and grasp the essential requirements of a modern global economy of value addition", said Badal while inaugurating the Field Fresh's State-of-the-art Fresh Produce Pack House, here .

The Chief Minister emphasised the need for value addition especially through vegetables and fruit processing.  He said that major components for the farm economy of the country, especially that of Punjab would comprise citrus and other food processing technologies.   

Badal also laid stress to streamline the entire super-structure of agriculture marketing in order to maximize profits and break the log-jam of un-remunerative farming. 

The Chief Minister said that India was the largest producer of fruits in the world (57.4 million MT) – 8% of world production and the 2 nd largest (after China ) producer of Vegetables (99.4 million MT) – 13% of the world production. Its total cultivable land was 52% (169 Mn. Hectares) and 1/5th of world's irrigated land (56 Mn hectares).

The Chief Minister pointed out that in addition to irrigation, agricultural investment has to be enhanced in supporting infrastructure. We need better transport connectivity, reliable supply chains and cold chains, more cargo and marketing centers, and so on, said Mr.Badal.   

Badal mentioned that he had time and again raised the issue to revitalize and improve our research system, extension services, food processing technologies and marketing systems to make Punjab far ahead of others not only in agriculture production but in marketing too.   He directed the Vice Chancellor PAU Dr.Manjit Singh Kang who was also present in the function to undertake extensive research in the field of horticulture and recommend high yielding verities of fruit and vegetables to the farmers. 

Badal appreciated the Bharti Enterprises for initiating this innovative venture to supplement the income of the farming community and solicited the participation of key-players in the public sector to ensure marketing network besides the value addition of Agriculture.He hoped that the Bharti's fieldfresh would showcase best practices in farming techniques and technologies and impart scientific training to farmers.

In his welcome address Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises Rakesh Bharti Mittal said that the vision of the field fresh to link Indian Fields to the World by making India a global food basket and its mission to be a dominant global player in the food industry would be the mantra of the success of the company.  He hoped that the operations of Field Fresh would act as a catalyst to boost the agro processing industry in the state.   He said that Field Fresh, which was a 50:50 joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and DMPL India Limited has inducted Del Monte Pacific Limited as a strategic partner in the company.  Field Fresh has been exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to key markets including UK , the Middle East and Europe . 

Later, the Chief Minister bemoaned the neglect of human resource development in the county over the past 60 years.  He said that the neglect of education had been shocking and this was now becoming a major hurdle in the way of the country's destined march into the new age. This observation was made by the Chief Minister during his maiden visit to the Sat Pal Mittal Public School at the behest of Mr.Rakesh Bharti Mittal. 

While interacting with Mittal, the Chief Minister appreciated him for creating excellent infrastructure in the school.  He said that the Punjab Government was also in mode to up grade the educational infrastructure in the state by setting up Adarsh School in each block to impart quality education to the intelligent poor student, besides upgrading three high schools in each block.  He lauded Mr.Mittal for setting up 10 Adarsh Schools and nearly 100 primary schools in the state to provide quality education to the students.   Badal called upon the industrialists to come forward to set up quality educational institutions in the state and assured full support and cooperation to them. 

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Tourism Minister Hira Singh Gabria, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Harish Rai Dhanda, Media Advisor to Chief Minister Harcharan Bains, Chairman Mandi Board Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, and District President SAD Santa Singh Umedpuri.