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Punjab Agri Export Corporation

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Punjab Agri Export Corporation Limited (PAGREXCO) is a government enterprise established by the Government of Punjab in the year 1997 as the nodal agency for agricultural export from the state of Punjab, India.[1] The company works for export of fresh and processed agricultural produce, infrastructural development and policy implementation in the state.[2][3] It is a subsidiary of Punjab Agro Industries Corporation.[4]

Punjab Agri Export Corporation Limited
IndustryAgriculture, Horticulture, Food Processing, Export
Founded1997
Brands
  • Five Rivers
  • AASNAA
ParentPunjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited (PAIC)

The company has been awarded Sustainable Development Goals Action Award by the Punjab Planning Department for Sustainable Organic Production and Innovative Marketing System. It has also received Leadership award in Agriculture Marketing.[5][6][7]

Activities and functions

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PAGREXCO is working with the Airports Authority of India for modernization of perishable cargo facility at Amritsar airport and has established a facility at Chandigarh Airport.[4] It is the state implementing agency for the Operation Greens scheme for Kinnow Crop under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.[8] It has started first-of-its-kind program using blockchain technology for organic products for traceability, certification and transparency starting with seed potato.[9][10][11] PAGREXCO is the nodal agency for implementation of Agriculture Export Policy in Punjab.[1] and for promoting farmer-producer organizations (FPO).[12] Through implementation programs by PAGREXCO, the state of Punjab has won the Jaivik India Award for organic farming.[13][14][15] PAGREXCO has set up five mechanical sorting, grading, waxing centers with capacity of 2 MT/hour for kinnow[16]

List of functions of PAGREXCO are as follows[2]-

  • Exporting fresh and seasonal agricultural produces, chiefly fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
  • Exporting processed agricultural produce.
  • Setting up the state-of-the-art infrastructure for facilitating organic farming.
  • Introducing and developing high-tech agri technologies.
  • Promoting joint ventures for export-oriented agro/horticulture farms.
  • Dealing with all sorts of chemical and equipment-based needs for farming

As per the Government of Punjab, PAGREXCO is the mandated agency to implement the Organic Program by providing institutional support to the organic farmers of the state under various Government of India schemes[17] To educate the farmers about product development and branding to market their produce, PAGREXCO has launched a weekly TV show on Doordarshan Jalandhar and Doordarshan Punjabi[18] Chief minister of Punjab Captain Amrinder Singh has supported PAGREXCO's activities towards the Kinnow farmers in the state.[19]

PAGREXCO has introduced an Agricultural Export Policy for medium to long term export development, strengthening back-end and front-end infrastructure, developing production and export clusters and building capacity among farmers.[20] The company also provides organic certification to eligible farmers.

Punjab Agro has outperformed Mexico in the export of chilli paste to the gulf and middle eastern market. The company directly procures chilies from farmers, processes it and exports to international markets as per buyer specifications.

The company facilitates/markets over 25000 metric tons of Kinnow Mandarins from the state.[21] PAGREXCO is the biggest aggregator of fruit brand "Punjab Kinnow" and uses advanced post harvest technology with edible fruit wax imported from Spain and volume metric grading (to determine post-harvest packaging standards) to extend the fruit’s shelf life up to 60 days.The company has also started home delivery services in Chandigarh-Mohali-Panchkula area with a business model favourable to farmers to ensure they get proper marketing through the "Five Rivers" brand.[22] For developing Potato and Seed Potato exports from Punjab, the company also conducts capacity-building activities for Farmers in Punjab's Potato Cluster (Districts Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur).[23]

In 2019, Punjab government, through PAGREXCO partnered with agri-tech startup Cropin in order to "improve the quality of potato seed production in the State" and implement "Seed Potato Traceability".[24]

Brands

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PAGREXCO has established a brand to market its products by the name of Five Rivers. The products include certified organic and traceable food items along with processed products. These products are marketed domestically at company owned stores by the name of "Organic Hut", at retail stores and also exported abroad.[25]

The company has a joint venture with UNATI Cooperative Marketing-cum-Processing Society Ltd by the name of Punjab Agro UNATI Gramin Marketing Private Ltd (PUGMARK), under which a common brand by the name of AASNAA has been created.[26]

Agriculture Export Policy

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In December 2019, PAGEXCO had come up with an Agriculture Export Policy (AEP). It focused on having a medium-term to long-term strategy to increase exports of agricultural produce from Punjab by strengthening back-end and front-end infrastructure to boost the export of fresh and value-added fruits and vegetables. It also talked of identifying focused commodities and clusters for developing export-related infrastructure and undertake capacity building of farmers towards making them ready to explore the markets abroad.[27]

Operation Greens

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In the budget speech of Union Budget 2018-19, The scheme “Operation Greens” was announced on the line of “Operation Flood”, with an outlay of Rs.500 crore to promote Farmer Producers Organizations (FPO), agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management.[28][29] PAGREXCO is responsible for its implementation in the state of Punjab. Important measures taken include price stabilization intervention, transport subsidies, storage subsidies etc.[30]

COVID relief

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PAGREXCO is appointed by the Punjab State government as the nodal agency for the import of COVID relief material, facilitating the entire process and free distribution[31][32]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Punjab looks to basmati rice, citrus, buffalo meat, to boost agri exports". The Times of India. 7 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Pagrexco". punjabagro.gov.in. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  3. ^ "PAGREXCO appointed as State Implementing Agency for Kinnow crop under Operation Greens Scheme - TOP to TOTAL | Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Punjab, India ਸੂਚਨਾ ਤੇ ਲੋਕ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਪੰਜਾਬ ,ਭਾਰਤ". www.diprpunjab.gov.in. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b Verma, Sanjeev (26 February 2019). "Punjab eyes horticulture growth to boost diversification". The Times of India.
  5. ^ "PAGREXCO & PMIDC wins Sustainable Development Goals Action Awards 2021 in Govt category". www.babushahi.com. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  6. ^ "ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਵਿਭਾਗਾਂ 'ਚੋਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਐਗਰੀ ਐਕਸਪੋਰਟ ਕਾਰਪੋਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਲਿਮਿਟਡ ਅਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਮਿਉਂਸੀਪਲ ਬੁਨਿਆਦੀ ਢਾਂਚਾ ਵਿਕਾਸ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਇਨਾਮ". Daily Post Punjabi. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Punjab Agri Export Corporation Limited Received Leadership Award in 'Agriculture Marketing'". krishijagran.com. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Punjab appoints PAGREXCO as state implementing agency for Kinnow crop". Daily Pioneer. 24 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Government of Punjab announces Seed Potato Traceability and Certification Program". ANI News. 13 August 2019.
  10. ^ Roy, Vijay C (21 February 2021). "Now, check authenticity of organic products in Punjab". The Tribune.
  11. ^ Gera, Ishaan (19 December 2019). "Reaping the benefits: Tech emerging as the farmer's best friend". The Financial Express.
  12. ^ "Farmer-Producers Organization Policy for the state of Punjab" (PDF). Punjab Horticulture.
  13. ^ "Punjab awarded for promoting organic farming". The Times of India. 2 January 2019.
  14. ^ "Punjab Gets 'Jaivik India Award' For Promoting Organic Farming". 5 Dariya News. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Punjab govt partners with agri-tech start-up CropIn for Seed Potato Traceability". @businessline. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Horticulture, Plantation crops and organic farming" (PDF). niti.gov.in. Planning Commission, Government of India.
  17. ^ "PUNJAB GETS 'JAIVIK INDIA AWARD' FOR PROMOTING ORGANIC FARMING". Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Punjab, India.
  18. ^ "PUNJAB AGRO TO DIRECTLY CONNECT WITH FARMERS THROUGH ITS WEEKLY 'FIVE RIVERS' SHOW". Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Punjab, India. 31 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Punjab plans big promotional boost for 'king fruit' kinnow in country". Hindustan Times. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  20. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Cereal exports: Focus on quality, infra push". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  21. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Punjab Agro outdoes Mexico in red chilli paste". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  22. ^ "The e-grocery bandwagon: Small grocery startups that braved pandemic now have to compete with big chains". The Financial Express. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  23. ^ "ਆਲੂ ਦੇ ਨਿਰਯਾਤ ਲਈ ਸਮਰੱਥਾ ਨਿਰਮਾਣ ਪੋ੍ਗਰਾਮ ਕਰਵਾਇਆ". Punjabi Jagran (in Punjabi). Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Punjab govt partners with agri-tech start-up CropIn for Seed Potato Traceability". www.thehindubusinessline.com. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  25. ^ "ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਫੂਡਜ਼ ਦੀ ਐਕਸਪੋਰਟ ਹੁਣ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ ਹੋਰ ਤੇਜ਼ -ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਮਾਨ". jagbani. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  26. ^ Bagga, Neeraj (1 April 2022). "ODOP scheme: Amritsar's traditional achaar and murabba industry gets a push". The Tribune.
  27. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Cereal exports: Focus on quality, infra push". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Operation Greens". mofpi.nic.in. Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India.
  29. ^ Tandon, Tulika (2 March 2021). "What is Operation Green?". Jagran Josh.
  30. ^ "Operation Greens Scheme". Punjab Agro.
  31. ^ "Punjab appoints 2 nodal officers to ease tax exemption on Covid relief imports". Hindustan Times. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  32. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Two nodal officers for giving tax relief". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
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