Abohar kinnow being supplied across Punjab for mid-day meals

Abohar, February 20

In view of the decision taken by the Punjab Government to give kinnow to students in the mid-day meal as part of the series of assistance to the kinnow producing farmers, Punjab Agro has regularised purchasing kinnow from the farmers to supply the same to govt and govt-aided schools in different districts.

SOLD AT BETTER PRICES

We sold our produce to Punjab Agro at Rs 15 per kg whereas in the private market, we were getting a lower price. We are thankful to the government for directing officials across the state to distribute kinnow to students at least once a week as a part of mid-day meal. — Gurdev Singh, Kinnow farmer

Deputy Commissioner Senu Duggal, during a visit to the Punjab Agro plant in Alamgarh village, 5 km from Abohar, said that kinnow was sent from here on Monday to the schools in Ferozepur, Faridkot, Kapurthala, Barnala, Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts. Similarly, on Tuesday, kinnow has been sent to the schools of district Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Pathankot and SBS Nagar, which was distributed to the students on the same day. She said that by dividing the entire state into different zones, kinnow is being supplied to different districts on a daily basis.

Punjab Agro official Gurpreet Singh said they are continuously purchasing kinnow from farmers. The purchase has been started so that the farmers can benefit from their crops.

Gurdev Singh, a farmer of Daulatpura village said they have sold their produce to Punjab Agro at the rate of Rs 15 per kg whereas in the private market, the farmers were getting a price lower than this. “We are thankful to the government for directing the district officials across the state to distribute kinnow to students at least once a week as a part of mid-day meal. A policy decision needs to be taken for the future as well to prevent exploitation of farmers by private stakeholders,” Gurdev said.