HP State Agriculture Marketing Board Scripting Success Story

Y.S. Rana

The writer is a Hamirpur based Himachali settled in Chandigarh

Even as their counterparts in the private sector keep crying global recession, the HP State Agriculture Marketing Board (HPSAMB) run by the state government continues to buck the trend and post improved performance. Washing clean the stigma of non-performance that generally gets stuck to the public sector outfits, the board posted a turnover of over Rs 900 crore in 2016-17 when global meltdown is estimated to have dented the earnings of public sector in the country by an average of 35%. Parkash Kashyap, Secretary, HPSAMB, while talking to Himachal This Week said that posting from merely a revenue of few thousands to masterly over Rs 900 crore turnover was a moment of pride for the board. This was made possible due to a number of innovative steps taken, said he. The ranks of beneficiaries continue to swell by the day. An official of the board stated that presently 12 lakh tons of vegetables and 8 lakhs tons of fruits are being produced in the state. Out of this about, 90% produce was brought to the different markets for sale.

Kashyap also said that recently 15 tonnes of garlic was sent to Bangladesh. He said that board has an inimitable track record in catalyzing the assistance and development of the farmers. It is also getting ready to enter the new phase of utilizing information technology as it has a target to computerize 60% of its markets. It is all set to introduce e-trading and e-payment in a big way in near future. Currently, 80% payments were being made through e-payment and soon cash payment would be stopped. The board has also taken an initiative to train 100 farmers in a span of 10 days during its training programmes across the state. So far under this initiative over 20,000 farmers, orchardists, stakeholders have been trained. In order to expedite market information, 39 computers have been installed in market committees in collaboration with the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Government of India under a centrally sponsored scheme—Marketing Research and Information Network (MRIN), revealed he. Any stakeholder can log on to www.agmarknet.nic.in to have an access to the arrivals and prices of different agricultural commodities in the various markets all over the country. Besides 14 electronic display boards have been displayed to the main markets. These display the latest wholesale prices prevailing in different markets. These were provided in collaboration with the Forward Market Commission.

The state has tough hilly terrain and scattered areas in small units. On one hand non-availability of easily and readily means of transport and on the other hand there is no facility for protection of agricultural produce in such areas resulted in damage of produce. The board has set up three seasonal markets to cover such areas. A scheme has been floated by the state government to construct collection centres at strategic points across the state. “The construction work on such 22 vegetable collection centres is in progress. During this fiscal, 28 more such collection centres would be set up,” said an official of the Board. Apart from the perceived paybacks of economic growth and employment generation, the initiatives taken up by the Board are expected to offer booster doze to the economic and social advancement of the State.

APMC Solan Decorated For Outstanding Performance

The board is also catering to the needs of the farmers and they could get better price for their produce. Hence, the board has also included six more produce in its ambit through 10 agricultural produce market committees (APMCs). The APMC of Solan has been awarded by the prime minister for its outstanding performance across the country in April this year. Increasing demand for off-seasonal vegetables and fruits in other parts of the country, the state government has taken a slew of initiatives to modernize its vegetable and fruit markets. The board also provides latest information on post harvest techniques, grading and standardization, food safety and quality, good agricultural practices, market information system to its farmers.

* Posted a turnover of over Rs 900 crore in 2016-17

* All set to introduce e-trading and e-payment shortly

* 80% payments made through e-payment Over 20,000 farmers/ orchardists/ stakeholders trained

56 Market Yards Constructed

Creating a pipeline of infrastructure that could be structured on a commercially viable line, the Board facilitates construction work and expansion of 17 markets and sub-markets. Out of these, 14 markets have already been constructed at a cost of over Rs 27 crore. In addition, the planning work of market yard at Parala in Shimla district is in progress. So far 56 market yards have been constructed. New markets have been set up at Waknaghat (Solan); Haripurdhar, Nauradhar (Sirmaur), Ghumarwin (Bilaspur); Karsog (Mandi); Kurluhi (Una); Chauri-Vihal (Kullu) and Kisan Bhavan at Dhalli.

Himachal-o-Meter

The state’s ups and downs this week

102 Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojana Benefits Women

Mandi: The 102 Janani Shishu Surksha Karyakram (JSSK), run by GVK EMRI and the state government under the Public Private Partnership model, is proving to be a boon for pregnant women and sick children in the state. The authorities are providing free drop-back transport facility to women after delivery and sick children up to the age of one year through toll free number 102 which can be dialled from any mobile or landline phone without adding any code. State head of GVK EMRI Mehul Sukumaran said since the start of the 102 ambulance service in the state the authority has conducted around 1 lakh drop-back of pregnant women cases in different parts of the state. He said, “Within a time period of 2 years and 5 months, of the 1,18,472 successfully handled drop-back cases in Himachal, 1,00,618 are related to drop-back of pregnant women, 4,475 of infants, 4,617 of neonates and 8,562 are related to drop-back of sterilisation patients.” “The emergency centre at Dharampur in Solan district on an average receives 1,100 calls per day out of which 99 per cent are immediately responded. The Response Officer collects information and arranges for an ambulance at the earliest for the comfort of patients,” he remarked.

Swine Flu Claims Four Lives In Himachal

Shimla: Deadly Swine flu has hit Himachal claiming four lives in this hill state. A 57-year-old tourist Avinash Patil from Jalgaon died at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) recently. He was tested positive for the H1N1 virus and was critical, claimed doctors. Nine patients out of the tested 60 patients have tested positive for the swine flu this year. Out of them, four patients – two from Kangra and one from Shimla – died. One patient is under treatment at the IGMC who is out of danger while other two were discharged yesterday, said Dr Ramesh Chand, senior Medical Superintendent, IGMC. State surveillance officer Dr Rakesh Bhardwaj said this time a different type of swine flu appeared to be behind the sporadic cases of flu in May. Generally, the H1N1 virus was active in winter months, he added.

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