Punjab sets up board for agriculture, horticulture promotion
Darpan News Desk IANS, 16 Aug, 2021 12:12 PM
Chandigarh, Aug 16 (IANS) To promote agriculture and horticulture in the state by boosting the crop diversification programme, the Punjab cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, on Monday approved the merger of Punjab Agro Juices Ltd (PAJL) with the Punjab Agri Export Corp Ltd (PAGREXCO).
The Cabinet approved the proposal of the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department for the merger as per the recommendations of the Board of Directors of PAGREXCO and PAJL and the officers' committee headed by the Chief Secretary.
The merged entity would be called Punjab Agri Export Corp Ltd, an official spokesperson said after the Cabinet meeting, which also authorized the Managing Director, Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Ltd (PAIC), to perform all such acts and deeds which are necessary for the implementation of the merger scheme and to make the merger scheme effective.
The merger would lead to better utilisation of resources of the PAJL with the PAGREXCO, creation of synergy, better economies of scale, expansion of operations, stronger farmer connect with forward and backward linkages, common branding and marketing to have a better consumer outreach, which will ultimately benefit the farmers and the agriculture sector of the state.
As per the merger terms and conditions, the new entity is envisaged as a company, and the entire decision making would be vested in the Board of Directors.
The Chairman of the merged entity will be an eminent horticulturist with experience in agribusiness.
The Board of Directors shall be appointed based their professional competencies from the areas of horticulture, marketing, finance, etc.
Former Congress President and Sonia Gandhi's son, Rahul Gandhi, was also present during the meeting. The meeting was held at Sonia Gandhi's residence at 10 Janpath here.
The Prime Minister conveyed his warm greetings to President Biden and Vice President Harris and his appreciation for the initiatives taken by President Biden including those related to the Quad, Covid-19 and climate change.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has ordered Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) to cancel or revisit all the "one-sided" pacts with private companies that are not contractually obligated to supply sufficient power to meet the state's peak demand during the paddy sowing and summer season.
The new leadership team, led by state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, had called on the Chief Minister and submitted a letter listing out some issues as needing urgent settlement.
The bodies of Khare Besra, 75 and his wife Curki Devi, 70, were recovered from Baragarda jungle of Giridih. The old couple, residents of Kumharlalo panchayat, had gone into the jungle on Saturday but had not returned and other villagers had filed a missing report with police.
