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Govt. exhibits agrarian pride at Trade Fair

Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

From far and near: Foreign visitors at the India International Trade Fair in New Delhi on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: Since the theme of the 27th India International Trade Fair now on at the Capital’s Pragati Maidan is ‘Processed Food and Agro Industries’, Haryana is showcasing its agrarian wealth in a big way.

The State is also providing a glimpse of the progress made by it in the food processing sector. “We are strictly adhering to the IITF theme of processed food and agro industries. Haryana is an agrarian State and it could achieve dominance in food and agro industries. We are displaying a number of innovative items like biscuits stuffed with bajra that is considered a poor man’s grain and is used mainly for preparing rotis. It is quite an up-gradation,” said Haryana Chief Secretary Promilla Issar at Haryana Bhavan here on Thursday.

A small portion of the Haryana Pavilion at the fair is being occupied by cottage handicrafts. Small toys are being made by women from Faridabad, Gurgaon and other regions of the State. “These workers are from below poverty line and we want to showcase the works produced by the smallest entrepreneur as well as the bigger ones,” she said.

Then there is ‘bel’ sherbet, ‘stevia’ tea that is used as a substitute for sugar. Guava juice prepared from rare pink-coloured guava and mouth-watering ‘jalebi’ from Gohana are also available.

“The State is showcasing ‘phulkari’ embroidery that is traditionally associated with Punjab. It is also displaying bangles in colours of all hues, soft toys and toys made of blown glass,” said Ms. Issar.

According to P.K. Mahapatra, Chief Administrator of the Trade Fair Authority of Haryana-cum-Resident Commissioner, the Haryana Pavilion is also showcasing the State’s infrastructural advancement, industrial progress and technological stride. “We are showcasing Haryana as an ultimate destination for investment and are also highlighting the State’s industry-friendly policies and programmes. Besides this, we are displaying auto-rickshaws, motorcycles and offering pure ‘lassi’ and juices to the visitors,” he said.

The first mural at the pavilion’s entrance has a giant sun in the shape of a map of Haryana and a variety of processed food exports. “The sun has been chosen as a mural because it symbolises energy and conveys prosperity, health and happiness,” said an official.

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Govt. exhibits agrarian pride at Trade Fair

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