Agro-market complexes to be constructed in all districts

The Pioneer, July 6, 2009
PNS | Berhampur

There is a proposal to construct market complexes for agricultural products for the benefit of farmers in all the districts of the State. This was informed in the Collectors' conference held at the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (southern division) conference hall here.

RDC SB Sahu along with District Collectors and Additional District Collectors of southern districts were present in the meeting attended by Agriculture Department Director Dr Arobinda Padhi, Water Resources Department Director HK Bisht and Horticulture Director JD Sharma.

Padhi informed the Collectors that there would not be any hurdles in the agricultural production in the State as the Government was taking every possible step in this regard. Hence the Collectors take steps towards training the farmers so that they could use their technical knowledge to increase production. There should be a Krushak Manch in every village and agricultural information and consultation centres should be in very Gram Panchayat. These steps should be taken to market the products of the farmers. To create infrastructure for marketing of products of the farmers, the Collectors were asked to locate land - five acre at GP level, 15 acres at block level, 25 acres at sub-divisional level and 50 acres of land at district level. There is a proposal to create market complexes in all the 30 districts of the State and these should be constructed keeping in view the agro-products in each district.

Horticulture director Sharma informed that the farmers were not aware of the programmes of the department and so could not get the benefit and the farmers should be well informed. The Government had implemented the programme for medicinal plants and its production. He had ordered the Collectors to take steps to cultivate the land according to the suitability of the land variety and weather condition in respective districts. Cashew nut production was good in Ganjam district and so Collector of Ganjam was asked to take necessary measures in this field. The Ganjam district administration had suggested opening a cashew nut processing unit in the district and the Government was considering it, informed Sharma.

Water Resources Department director Bisht had also reviewed the works in southern districts and had ordered to take steps to find solutions to the present problems in various irrigation projects. RDC SB Sahu had also asked the Collectors to complete all the works without any delay and within the stipulated time.