Multi fruit processing plants of Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited at Hoshiarpur and Abohar have restarted the processing of Fruits & Vegetables after their lackluster performance during the last 5 years. Plant at Abohar is currently processing kinnow and the plant at Hoshiarpur shall start kinnow processing shortly. The plant at Abohar is currently processing the 1200 tonn of kinnow for M/s Hindustan Liver Limited (HLL) and M/s Dabur India Limited is in the line for processing of kinnow at Hoshiarpur. In addition M/s Cremica Limited has signed a contract for processing of 7500 tonnes of Tomato at Hoshiarpur and M/s Hindustan Liver Limited has already signed agreement for processing of about 10000 tonnes of Tomato at Abohar, during the month of May & June, 2014. In addition M/s Cremica, M/s Field Fresh & M/s Mother Dairy have also come forward to get the processing of Chilies, Ginger, Garlic, Onion and Tomato done at these plants.
Sh K.S. Pannu, IAS, Managing Director, Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited stated that these plants in addition to kinnow shall process Chilies, Guava, Mango, Galgal and Black Carrot during the year and hence shall be adding value to fruits & vegetable cultivation in Punjab. He further said that they shall also take up processing of kinnow and carrot for preparation of food concentrates. He stated that Chief Minister, Punjab has recently given them a grant of Rs. 2 Crores for upgradation of the plants.