The Hindu : Kerala News : Operations begin at Vengeri market

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Monday, Jan 31, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Operations begin at Vengeri market

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE, JAN. 30. The Minister for Agriculture, K.R. Gouri, inaugurated the operations of the Urban Agriculture Wholesale Market at Vengeri here today.

This is one of the six wholesale markets set up in the State by the Agriculture Department using funds given by the European Economic Commission for helping farmers market their produce.

The Mayor, Thottathil Ravindran, inaugurated the Agmark and Quality Assurance Lab, the Agriculture Principal Secretary, Mathew C. Kunnunigal, the Marketing Intelligence Cell and the Agriculture Department Director, P.S. Sasi, the auction hall. A seminar for farmers organised in this connection was inaugurated by the Kozhikode District Panchayat President, M.K. Nalini. The Agriculture Marketing Director, P.P. Gopi, presented the project. The District Collector, Rachna Shah, and A. Sujanapal, MLA, were present.

The Chief Executive of the market, R. Venugopal, said farmers from Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts would benefit from the facility. They would have better options to sell their produce, including coconut, arecanut, rubber, cardamom, vanilla, nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon, clove, fruits and vegetables. The market would also provide facilities to sell flowers, herbal plants and value-added products. He said that one of the features of the rules and procedures of the market was priority to the needs and interests of farmers. It would function with the efficiency of a private firm, while having the financial discipline of a public sector. Importance would also be given to research.

Ninety-two furnished rooms had been arranged at various buildings to market the produces. The facilities included an electronic weighbridge and other equipment, roads, parking space, toilet, Photostat, telephone and Internet connections, canteen, dormitories to accommodate 50 people, guest rooms for 10 persons and business rooms, Mr. Venugopal said.

A banking counter would also be started. The market was on 10 hectares of land. Round-the-clock security had been provided. Prior to the inauguration, the market had been able to sell produce estimated at Rs. 2.25 crores on an experimental basis, he said.

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