The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Vijayawada News : Krishna district market panels in crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Krishna district market panels in crisis

G.V. Ramana Rao

Reflection of reduced agricultural activity due to paucity of water

VIJAYAWADA: Despite a `farmer-friendly' Government being at the helm of affairs in the State, market committees in Krishna district seem to be inching their way to bankruptcy.

Dullness in the agricultural activity for want of water in the Krishna River is reflecting in the earnings of market committees. Farmers of Krishna district, who cultivated two crops, paid Rs. 21.50 crores as market cess in 2000-2001.

But, a couple of years later, the earnings of all market committees dropped to Rs. 11.48 crores (2003-04).

There are 17 market committees in the district that collect market cess for paddy and other agricultural produces cultivated in the respective areas.

The 17 market committees in the district are Kaikaluru, Gudivada, Machilipatnam, Vijayawada, Divi, Gannavaram, Movva, Tiruvuru, Vyyuru, Nuzvid, Pamaru, Malleswaram, Nandigama, Jaggaiahpet, Mylavaram, Kanchikacherla and Kalidindi. Though the target for market cess collection was Rs. 14.16 crores for 2004-05, the collection of the committees did not cross Rs. 13.24 crores.

Eventhough Gudivada, Movva, Vuyyuru, Pamaru, Malleswaram Nandigama, Mylavaram and Kalidindi market committees collected fee in excess of the target, poor performance of other committees brought down the earnings. The Kalidindi market committee collected a record 160 per cent, but this achievement was attributed to the `unscientific' bifurcation of the erstwhile Kaikaluru market committee.

The newly-formed Kaikaluru committee could only achieve 83 per cent of the target for the same reason.

Farmers are able to benefit by the Rythu Bandhu scheme being extended by the Marketing Department. The department began in a humble way disbursing advances of only Rs. 2.64 crores in 2000-2001. The very next year, it could advance Rs. 7.31 crores and a record Rs. 12.33 crores in 2002-03.

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