Chandigarh, Nov 29 (IANS): Haryana is setting up the state's largest apple marketing yard in Pinjore town bordering Himachal Pradesh, the state Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Jai Prakash Dalal said on Friday.

He said the ultramodern market, mainly to cater apples, will come up on 78 acres and will help economic development and benefit apple farmers of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Dalal was addressing a consultation meeting organised for various stakeholders for the apple market of Pinjore here.

The infrastructure, modern technology and other types of facilities of the market were discussed at the meeting, an official statement said.

He said the state has already set up an apple market in Sector 20 in Panchkula town, but during the peak apple season, there is a shortage of space and other problems. Therefore, the decision to make the first largest apple market in Pinjore will benefit the farmers and traders.

He said the apples coming from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu are kept in cold chains in far-flung places like Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai, which not only incurs huge transportation expenses but also affects the quality of fruits and vegetables. The upcoming apple market will solve all these problems.

The Minister said it is also decided to set up an international vegetable market in Ganaur in Sonipat district for which Rs 400 crore has been released.

Apart from these, a flower market will be set up in Gurugram and a spices market in Sonipat town.

The statement said about five lakh tonnes of apples are produced in Himachal and 18 lakh tonnes in Jammu which are transported via Pinjore for the national capital.