Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

State gets World Bank aid to modernise market yards

Special Correspondent

Minister hints at revamp of marketing system

KURNOOL: Minister for Marketing and Warehousing M. Mareppa said the World Bank offered an assistance of Rs. 155 crores for modernisation of market yards in the State.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, he said out of 308 market yards here, 50 per cent was functional while the rest needed revival.

Mr. Mareppa said revamp of marketing system was on the anvil as it was an important aspect of revival of agriculture sector. Efforts were being made to reduce the role of middlemen and agents in the marketing system.

According to him, hostels, hospitals, jails and hotels would be asked to source vegetables and other provisions directly from farmers through marketing network. Scope of `rythu bazars' would be enlarged keeping in view the consumers' needs. They would be made one-stop shopping places.

Tomato crisis

On the crisis faced by tomato farmers in Pathikonda and Aspari, the Minister said farmers would be trained to grow varieties with more pulp. The present variety has only juice, which does not make it commercially viable.

The Minister emphasised the need for declaring minimum support price (MSP) before sowing of so that farmers could decide on the right crop.

He said Jatropha and henna would be planted at market yards to educate farmers on plantation crops.

Filling vacancies

Mr. Mareppa said 46 market yards were without chairmen in the State and the posts would be filled in a month.

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