Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana said that in line with the directions of CM Nayab Singh Saini, the Haryana Agro Industries Corporation and the Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (Vita) will jointly establish a modern kinnow juice processing plant in Sirsa district.
The Minister said that the plant will be set up under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with an annual processing capacity of around 22,000 metric tonnes. Besides kinnow, the facility will also process fruits such as guava, pomegranate and other varieties. The processed products will be packaged and marketed under the Vita brand.
He further stated that the finished products will be sold through Harhith and Vita stores, which will ensure better prices for farmers’ produce and give a strong boost to the horticulture sector. The project is expected to be especially beneficial for kinnow growers and will also help reduce post-harvest fruit wastage.
The Agriculture Minister informed that at present, around 200 to 250 stores are being set up every year under the “Har-Hith” scheme. Going forward, the government aims to expand this network by establishing 500 to 600 stores annually. Rana said that the Haryana Government is continuously working to enhance farmers’ income through modern agricultural infrastructure, food processing units and a robust marketing system.