Andhra Pradesh   

Concept of Rythu Bazars deserves full marks

The rates at Rythu Bazars are lower than in local markets. This is what endears the Rythu Bazars to consumers. Farmers, too, are very happy with the system as it eliminates middlemen, as revealed by a study on the functioning of Rythu Bazars in Ranga Reddy, and Medak districts and Hyderabad. The study had been undertaken to learn about the problems of vegetable consumers and producers in Rythu Bazars. The main objectives of the study were to estimate the producer's share in the consumer's rupee for the vegetable crops in selected Rythu Bazars and to study the problems of vegetable consumers and producers in Rythu Bazars.

The study shows that the difference between prices in Rythu Bazars and local markets ranges from 10 per cent to 19 per cent for all vegetables in the study. There are many areas in which there is scope for improvement. The basic problems faced by farmers are lack of storage structures, bargaining and sorting of vegetables by consumers, occupation of walking paths by small vendors causing inconvenience, fixing of arbitrary prices and existence of middlemen.

The farmers themselves have given suggestions for improvement of the Rythu Bazars such as provision of zero energy cooling chambers, fixing of farmer-friendly prices, barring middlemen, better transport facilities and provision of more spacious stalls.

The consumers expressed disapproval over many things like inconvenient entrance, high prices on Sundays and festivals, availability of fewer varieties, lack of quality vegetables during evening hours and not much difference between Rythu Bazar prices and local market rates.

The suggestions offered by consumers for effective functioning of Rythu Bazars included identifying more vegetable-growing farmers and encouraging them to sell their products in Rythu Bazars, providing more varieties of vegetables, grading of the produce, allowing farmers to buy vegetables unavailable in the Rythu Bazars from wholesale market, ensuring normal prices during weekends, regular official visits to check the presence of middlemen, increase in number of stalls and fixed rate for products.

Loyola Academy

Guide: Professor M. Upender, Dean, College Development Council, OU

Food security through genetic engineering

The techniques of modern genetics have made possible the quick manipulation of the genetic make up of organisms. Selective breeding has traditionally been used over centuries to produce improved plants.

Hough traditional breeding and genetic modification share some basic principles there are key differences between the two methods. Traditional breeding methods require several generations or planting seasons to produce a plant carrying the beneficial traits. With genetic modification in one generation alone a plant can be created that is the same in all respects except for the addition of the required trait. Another difference is that traditional breeding transfers all of a plant's genes. Not just the good ones to the next generation. Due to the rapid growth of the world population it becomes necessary to increase food production and for this we need plants that produce nutritious food and are also pest and stress resistant.

This is possible through new technologies such as genetically modified plants.

The new benefits of the application of gene technology in agri industries are sustainability of the natural resources base and food security for the growing world population.

Genetically modified foods have the potential to solve many of the world's hunger and malnutrition problems and help protect the environment by increasing yield and reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and herbicides.

Yet, there are many challenges ahead, especially in areas of quality tests, allergenicity, toxicity, composition, nutritional value food derived through genetic modification before they can be released into the market.

L. Rakesh Kumar Yasarla

M. Tech, Biotechnology, Centre for Biotechnology, Acharya

Nagarjuna University

N. Maria Das

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