Mohali, 9th January 2025- National Conference on Modernization of Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market was organized in Jodhpur (Rajasthan) under the chairmanship of S. Harchand Singh Burst Chairman, KOSAMB and Chairman Punjab Mandi Board. In this conference, Mr. Atul Bhansali
MLA Jodhpur, Mr. Aditya Devilal Chautala MLA Dabwali, Shri Rajesh Chauhan, IAS Administrator Rajasthan Mandi Board, Dr. JS Yadav Managing Director Kausamba, Shri Jhalak Shreshtra President Nepal Agriculture Market Association participated.
 Along with this, officials of marketing boards of various states across India also participated, under which Shri Anil Dabbu Chairman from Uttarakhand, Shri Hemis Negi HPS Managing Director from Himachal Pradesh, Shri Manish Sharma Assistant Secretary from Delhi, Shri Shivanand Kapashi IAS Managing Director from Karnataka, Smt. Sangeeta Dhoke Joint Director from Madhya Pradesh participated. 
On this occasion, the modernization of fruit and vegetable markets was discussed in detail. During this, S. Harchand Singh Burst said that in today's time, there is a great need to modernize the fruit and vegetable markets. It is very important that the work of transporting the farmer's produce from his field to the market and to the consumer's home is done in a clean manner. 
Therefore, we should all work together and pay attention to the modernization of the markets under a plan. He said that the Punjab government led by the Honorable Chief Minister of Punjab, S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is paying special attention to the modernization of the markets of the state. S. Burst, while mentioning the work done for the modernization of the fruit and vegetable markets in the state, said that the Punjab Mandi Board has installed boom barriers to ensure 100 percent recording of the goods in the fruit and vegetable markets, due to which the recording of the goods coming in the vehicles is done at the gate of the market itself. 
He said that artificial technology cameras will soon be installed in the fruit and vegetable markets of Punjab, which will make the work of recording commodities even easier. The level of cleanliness in the fruit and vegetable markets of the state is maintained as per the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Bobcat machines are used to ensure cleanliness in the fruit and vegetable markets. He said that due to maintaining this level of cleanliness in the fruit and vegetable markets, the fruit and vegetable market of Bathinda has also received the Eat Right Fruit and Vegetable Market certificate.
 For the convenience of farmers, commodity-specific markets such as Jamun Mandi, Pea Mandi, Potato Mandi etc. are also set up. A bio waste management plant is being set up in Phagwara Mandi to process and compost the waste generated from fruit and vegetable markets. The Chairman said that 60,347 saplings have been planted in the mandis of Punjab state during the year 2024 to make the state green. 
After renovating Kisan Bhawan, Chandigarh and Kisan Haveli, Sri Anandpur Sahib, online booking has also been started. Due to which the income of Punjab Mandi Board has increased significantly. Along with this, during the off-season, the vacant covered sheds in the mandis of the state are being given for social programs and are also being used as playgrounds. The delegates who reached the conference appreciated the work being done by Punjab Mandi Board.