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.
Facing massive statewide agitation by farmers over power outages, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday issued directions to ensure eight-hour uninterrupted power supply and to purchase deficient power from outside the state at any cost to prevent any supply disruption in the ongoing sowing season.
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, Kamal Pant, told reporters that the police teams were forced to open fire after firing warning shots in the air as the accused persons resisted the search teams' efforts to nab them.
On the occasion of Bhagat Kabir Ji Jayanti, the Chief Minister also announced that his government will soon disburse Rs 560 crore to the landless farm labourers under the Debt Waiver Scheme.
Custom officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here have seized 80 iPhones from two passengers arriving from Sharjah. They found the iPhones worth over Rs 1 crore while checking the luggage of the two passengers who had arrived by flight G9-458 on Wednesday.
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday approved Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) to operate the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport in the adjoining Thane-Raigad region, an official said here.
The session ensued a detailed discussion about the rising air pollution as well as the steps that need to be taken up by authorities as well as the community to manage the deteriorating air quality.
