Procurement norms eased to help kinnow growers

Sanjeev Singh Barriana

Tribune News Service

Alamgarh(Abohar), December 7

Punjab Agro Juices Limited has compromised on international standards for procuring kinnows, sending in a ray of hope for local growers whose produce was not lifted saying it did not conform to international standards. With certain leading companies, including Hindustan Unilever and the ITC, already lined up, the Rs 42-crore project of the Punjab Government, lying grossly underutilised, expects to make a beginning once again.

Till last year, kinnow was not accepted if the acidic content in the fruit did not conform to the international Brix/Acid ratio of 18-22. Much before the end of the winter season, farmers had already sold their produce at a price much below their expectations. The Brix/Acid standard has been reduced to about 10 now.

The procurement for the current season will begin around mid-December.

In 2007, the state government decided to go in for disinvestment of Punjab Agro Juices Limited because its loan of Rs 28 crore was becoming a pain in the neck. The government had to pay Rs 30 crore as one-time settlement (OTS) amount to the Bank of Overseas to get complete debt waiver.

Managing Director of Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited Kahan Singh Pannu said, “We have made a minor compromise on the international standards keeping in view farmers’ interests. Since they did not get an opportunity to sell their produce here, they usually ended up selling it at extremely low rates. The juice quality was professionally approved.”

“The plan to set up plant chalked out after an international cold drink brand showed interest in procuring juice. Certain imported varieties of orange were planted, but these failed in the region. Kinnow juice did not meet the international specifications. Farmers were suffering because of that,” Pannu said.

Abohar MLA Sunil Jakhar said no such initiate would be of use unless the farmers were benefited. Former chairman of the Abohar market committee Ajit Saharan said, “The juice factory here is of no use despite tall claims by the plant management.”

Plant project head Subhash Rana said, “With the use of latest technology, including premium juice extractors and alternative fuel like husk and petroleum remain, the plant is already on the path to revival. We extracted juice from 7,000 tonnes of tomato this year, besides guava and more fruits.”