Punjab to boost tomato production,paste manufacturing: Ravneet Bittu

North News

Chandigarh, January 11

 Punjab is set to ramp up tomato production and paste manufacturing through collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Punjab Agro Industries Corporation, and Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu said. During a visit to HUL’s plant in Rajpura, Bittu  on Friday emphasized developing hybrid tomato seeds to meet international standards, enabling Punjab farmers to increase tomato cultivation. The HUL plant, which requires 11,423 metric tonnes of tomato paste annually for ketchup production, currently sources only 50 metric tonnes from Punjab. “Punjab produces tomatoes with the best color quality in India, as confirmed by HUL Rajpura. If farmers are assured fair prices, why shouldn’t they produce tomatoes here?” Bittu said. He proposed engaging PAU Ludhiana to help farmers achieve this goal. The minister urged HUL to increase local procurement and assured that the Government of India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would provide full support. “If Maharashtra can produce tomato paste in large volumes, why can’t Punjab?” Bittu remarked.