Date:22/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/22/stories/2008112250110100.htm

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More farmers’ markets soon

Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI: Fifty more farmers’ markets (uzhavar sandhai) would be established in the State by this year-end, Minister for Agriculture Veerapandi S. Arumugam said.

He was addressing a function at Melapalayam on Friday to mark the inauguration of Aringnar Anna Centenary Farmers’ Market, the 107th market in the State.

Mr. Arumugam said the farmers’ market had become a hit among consumers and farmers as prices of fruits and vegetables were 15 to 20 per cent less than the open market. Farmers, who could not hitherto fix the price for their produce, could determine the cost of the vegetables in this system where the price of the farm produce was decided by the officials of Agriculture Department and farmers.

“As patronage to the farmers’ market is overwhelming, we are establishing 50 more such facilities and 39 of them are ready and waiting for inauguration,” he said.

The officials could divert the bus routes via farmers’ markets in the morning to bring in more vegetables from the villages, he said.

Commissioner for Agricultural Marketing Atul Anand said that over 2.60 lakh consumers were buying 1,050 tonne fruits and vegetables worth Rs. 2.40 crore from farmers’ markets in the State everyday.

“Since the government has proposed to establish cold storage facility in 22 farmers’ markets where arrival of vegetables and sale is relatively high, it will shield the producers against possible loss,” he said.