Chandigarh, Oct 23 (KNN) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann advocates for enhancing inter-state trade, with the goal of securing profitable prices for farmers and delivering quality products to the public at reasonable prices.

While chairing a meeting with chairmen and managing directors of mandi boards of several states, Mann said all the states must join their hands in developing a common platform to buy and sell commodities. 

This is the need of the hour to safeguard the interests of both consumers and farmers, said Mann, adding that this will ensure the availability of the best products to people and remunerative price of produce to farmers.

 “When the entire world has emerged as a single market, unnecessary shackles within the states regarding production and marketing of produce should be removed. This 'farm to fork' approach and availability of goods within all the states will immensely benefit consumers and farmers in a big way,” he said.

He added that It is imperative to adopt this approach to ensure that farmers get their profit.

During the meeting, Mann also explained to the visiting delegations about the utilisation of rural development fund (RDF) by the state for public welfare. 

However, he bemoaned that a whopping sum of Rs 5,637.4 crore of the state's RDF is still pending with the Union government.

Punjab Mandi Board, chairman, Hacrchand Singh Barsat, Goa Mandi Board, chairman, Parkash Chander Velip, Haryana Mandi Board, chairman, Aditya Devilal Chautala, Uttarakhand Mandi Board, managing director, Ashish Bhatgain and others were present.

(KNN Bureau)