Balbir Singh Sidhu Slams Punjab Government Over Power Crisis and Failure to Supply Canal Water to Tail-End Areas Punjab Government Must Immediately Resolve the Problems of Farmers and the General Public : Balbir Singh Sidhu S.A.S.Nagar 30 June ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Former Punjab Health Minister and senior Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over the severe power and irrigation crisis in the state, alleging that its false claims and administrative failures have pushed farmers and ordinary citizens into extreme hardship. He said that during the crucial paddy transplantation season, farmers are receiving neither adequate canal water nor sufficient electricity, putting thousands of acres of crops at risk of drying up. Sidhu stated that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has repeatedly claimed that canal water has been ensured up to the tail-end areas of the irrigation network. However, the ground reality is entirely different....
First-Ever Export of Punjab Lychees to Oman Marks Milestone in Cooperative-Led Agri Exports
Chandigarh 29 June ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : In a significant boost to Punjab’s horticulture sector and the cooperative movement, the first-ever consignment of fresh lychees from Hoshiarpur district was exported to Oman with the facilitation and support of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. APEDA played a key role in connecting Unati Agri Allied Cooperative Society with the overseas buyer and facilitating the export process from farm to Oman. The consignment was prepared with export-quality standards, with lychees packed in Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) bags of 1 kg to 5 kg capacity, facilitated by M/s Super Plum, to ensure better shelf life and quality during international transportation.
The consignment will reach Oman and will be promoted through Lulu Group, one of the leading retail groups in the region, providing Punjab’s lychees an opportunity to reach international consumers and strengthen India’s presence in the global fresh fruit market. The export reflects the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Sahkar Se Samruddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation) by connecting farmer cooperatives with global markets and creating new opportunities for agricultural exports. The maiden consignment was facilitated under the guidance of APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev and was flagged off by Shri Harpreet Singh in the presence of officials and representatives of the cooperative society.This achievement comes shortly after the inauguration of APEDA’s Punjab Regional Office in Chandigarh, further strengthening export facilitation, market linkages, and handholding support for farmers and exporters from the region. This marks the first initiative of APEDA Punjab to facilitate overseas shipment of fresh produce cultivated by a cooperative society, paving the way for greater opportunities for Punjab’s horticulture sector.
Harpreet Singh stated that the initiative will help enhance farmers’ income, encourage production of export-quality fruits, and strengthen India’s position in international fresh fruit markets while promoting the cooperative model as a driver of rural prosperity.
Through APEDA’s facilitation, buyer linkage, and export support, Punjab’s lychees have successfully embarked on their journey to Oman, marking a new milestone in the state’s agri-export growth.
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