The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : World Bank-aided agricultural project in State's kitty

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Thursday, May 03, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

World Bank-aided agricultural project in State's kitty

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh, along with four other States, has been selected for World Bank-aided Multi-State Agricultural Competitiveness Project (MACP) to develop competitive marketing systems and improved market access to farmers.

The Centre has proposed this project for those States, which have amended the existing market Acts.

Andhra Pradesh has already brought amendments to the Markets Act, 2005, and hence, it has been selected for the project.

Andhra Pradesh Government gave its consent to participate in the project by issuing an order on May 1.

Rajasthan, Orissa, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are the other selected States.

A six-member World Bank delegation, led by Robert Epwort, along with officials of the National Institute of Agricultural Marketing headed by its Director-General Anurag Bhatnagar held discussions with the officials of the marketing, agriculture, and horticulture.

Marketing Minister M. Mareppa, Marketing Commissioner Dasari Srinivasulu, Horticulture Commissioner Madusudan Rao and Principal Secretary (Marketing) G. Sudhir attended.

Talking to reporters later, Mr. Mareppa said the objective of MACP was to increase the efficiency and reduce costs in marketing chain to the benefit of producers and consumers.

It also aims at increasing small and medium entrepreneurial investments in agriculture and more effective use of public funds to extension and applied research and investment schemes.

Mr. Robert Epwort said that the idea was to empower the farmers by providing more options in the market place. More States would be covered in the subsequent phases.

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