Date:14.10.2014

Ankapur, a role model for Telanganavil lagesRich farmers who have earned global praise for their effectiveagricultural practices, and a strong NRI population, have madeAnkapurself-sufficient

Ankapurissmall,self-sufficientandagriculturallyrich:amodelforallvillagesinTelangana.LocatedinArmoormandalonNH-63,20kilometresaway from thedistrictheadquarters, thevillage isalsoknownas‘miniUSA’duetoalltheurbanfacilitiesitboastsof.

Farmers here are famous for having adopted modern farmingmethods in cultivating commercial crops like turmeric,maizeandvegetablesona largescale.Theycultivatecommercialcrops,asopposed to traditionalones likepaddy, inadistrictnowknowntobethericebowlofTelangana.

Farmers are well aware of how to adopt modern methods toaugmenttheiroutputamidscantyrainfall,andtheythereforeneverlook at governments for succour even in theworst of scenarios.Hence,more than 75 per cent farmerswho took crop and otheragricultureloanshavealreadyrepaidthebankswithoutseekingawaiver.

Thevillagehasearnedrecognitionfromnationalandinternationalagricultural researchbodies suchas the ICAR, ICRISATand theInternational Rice Research Institute. This, probably, is only thevillageinTelanganathathasaseparatewebportalcreatedbyitsNRIs.

“We have over 500 educated youth either working or pursuinghigherstudies in theUSA, theUK, theUAEandothercountries.The village has sound financial strengthwith themoney sent bythem, besides agricultural income,” says Challa Ananta Reddy,chairmanofVillageDevelopmentCommittee.

Womenworkhardhereandeventhoughnohouseholdownsmorethan10acresofland,theyproduceamaximumoutput.Duringonebumper harvest, farmers were said to have purchased so manynewcarswiththeremunerationfromcrops.

Thereare22 seedprocessingunits in the village.The red jowarseed developed here is exported to northern India. Seedcompanies like Pioneer, Pro-Agro, Ganga Kaveri, Kaveri, Tulasiand Nuziveedu have processing units in the village. Thesecompanieshavemitigatedtheproblemofunemploymenttoalargeextent.

It isnoexaggeration ifonesays that thevillagehasno thatchedhousesandhuts.Inhabitedby5,689people(asper2011Census),the village has 1,520 households and over 2,000 acres ofcultivableland.Thiscouldbeoneamongafewvillageswhichhasalessnumberofwhiterationcards,accordingtoVillageRevenueOfficerMohan.

TheVDCplaysapivotalroleforthedisciplineanddevelopmentofthe village, says M.C. Ganga Reddy, president of the RythuSangham.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, on a recent visit to thevillage, had praised it and doled out several sops, while alsoappealing to other villages to emulate Ankapur for its self-sufficiency.

Ferti l izertraderswarnedThedistrict administrationhaswarned fertilizer traders to complywithrulesinsalesandnotresorttomalpractices.

Theadministrationhassaidthatfollowingcomplaintsfromfarmersin the lastmonthly farmers’ grievances redressmeeting, officialsfromtheAgricultureDepartmentinspectedthefertilizershop,KTVAgencies,inAnnurandfoundthefarmers’allegationstobetrue.

PleaforprobeintoAavinscamFarmers’ association (Vivasayeegal Sangam) has called for athorough probe in the state of affairs in the milk cooperativefederation,Aavin.Atitsmonthlymeeting,theassociationsaidthatthere was a need for such a probe because what had beenexposed and was being investigated was only the tip of theiceberg. Italsocalled fordirect transferof fertilizersubsidy to thefarmerssayingthatmanyatimetheorganisationanditsmembershad complained about the financial misdemeanours of fertilizertraders.

The association sought the formation of an expert committee tolook into the pest problem in tomato saying that neither theHorticulture Department nor Tamil Nadu Agricultural Universitywashelpful.Theassociationpassedresolutionsseekingactiontoprevent stray cattle menace, amendments to the WildlifeProtectionAct,1972,insuchawaythatthelawwasnotapplicabletoanimalsthatstrayedoutofforestfromChithiraiChavadiAnaicuttoVedapattisoenablefarmerstotakeproducetomarket.

African giant snails spotted in Mandyavil lages

TheAfricangiantsnails(Africandaityabasavanahulu),consideredto be one of the “world’s worst invaders”, have been spotted infarmlandsof several villages inMandyadistrict, causing concernamongscientistsandfarmers.

Thepresenceof invasivesnailspecies(AchatinaFulicaBowdich)hasbeenreportedfromChikkaMandya,Gopalapura,H.Kodihalli,G. Patna, H. Malligere, Malligere farm, Shambhunahalli,Upparakana Halli, Gantegowdana Halli, Hampapura, Bilidegula,Hosuru, Garudanahalli, Tirumalapura, Gudigenahalli, Basaralu,Hulivana,HosurColony,Shivalli,Gorawale,Hulikere,Kebbahalli,HonnegowdanaDoddiandKommerahalliinthesurroundingareasofMandya.

Reports of these snails moving from one place to another havealso arrived from several villages in Srirangapatna, Maddur,MalavalliandPandavapurataluksofthedistrict.

ResidentsofH.MalligereandKodihallisaid that theynoticed thesnails even on the top of coconut trees and sugarcane crops.Sources in the Agriculture Department said that proliferation ofAfricangiantsnailswasagravethreattoagriculturalsectorinthedistrict.

“We are convening ameetingwith the officials/field officers hereon Tuesday to review the progress of the department. We willdiscuss at length the sighting of African giant snails,” M.N.Rajasulochana,JointDirectorofAgriculture,toldTheHindu.

Theofficersaidthatherdepartmentwouldconductasurveyinthevillages where these snails were sighted and create awarenessamongfarmersaboutthesesnails.

Severedamage

Scientists at theV.C.Farm (ZonalAgriculturalResearchStation)on the outskirts of the city have requested the farmers to take“immediatemeasures”againstthesesnailstosavetheircrops.

“These nocturnal creatures are known as one of the deadliestcreaturesthatcouldeathundredsofvarietiesofcrops,”D.K.SiddeGowda,ProfessorandHeadof theDepartmentofEntomologyatV.C.Farm,said.

Speaking to this reporteronMonday,Mr.SiddeGowdasaid thateach snail would lay about 50 to 200 eggs once a year. Theywouldeatmorethan400varietiesofcrops.

“TheAfricangiantsnailsareveryactiveduringrainyseason.Theycome out of their hideout, mainly paddy fields, after sunset andcauseenormousdamagetocrops,”hesaid.

Mr.SiddeGowdahasrequestedthefarmerstodestroythesnailsto save their crops. For details, contact entomologist Mr. SiddeGowdaon9449687599.

KarimnagardairyreapingrichesEvenasthedistrict isreelingunderacutedroughtconditionswithdecline in the agricultural produce, the Karimnagar District MilkProducerCompany is reaping richeswith the steady increase ofmilk procurement. Farmers of the district, who have otherwiseneglected thedairyunits following thebountiful rainfallduring thelast fewyears,arenow takingupdairyunitsasalternate incomesourcefollowingtheprevailingdroughtconditions.TheKarimnagardairyisalsoencouragingfarmerstotakeupdairyunitasadditionalincome source along with agriculture to mitigate the droughtproblem.

Thedairythroughitsthriftandcreditsocietyisextendingfinancialassistance for the purchase ofmilching animals by farmers. Thefarmerhas topayRs.5,000and the remainingRs.30,000 ispaidby the dairy as loan amount to purchase a milching animal(buffalo).Beforehandingoverthefinancialassistance,thefarmersare given training at the dairy. The dairy is also providing cashincentiveofRs.1,500 forgrowing fodder in the fields.Karimnagardairy chairman Ch. Rajeshwara Rao said that there is steadyincreaseofmilkprocurement fromfarmersasmajorityof farmersare taking up dairy units as alternate income source. Presently,theyachievedprocurementof92,000andoddlitresofmilkperdayandexpectittogoupby1.2lakhlitresperdaybyNovember-end.Hesaid that theyhaveseta targetofachieving1.5 lakh litresofmilk procurement per day and increase their salesmarket in theState. Dairy managing director V. Hanumantha Reddy said thatthey had sanctioned Rs.3.73 crore loans to 1,038 farmers forpurchaseofmilchinganimalsinthedistricttilldate.Duringthelastyear, theycouldprovidefinancialassistanceofonlyRs.8 lakhto190farmersasthefarmersdidnotshowinterestinthedairyunits.He said farmers of upland regions ofSircilla,Husnabad revenuedivisions are showing more interest in taking up dairy units tomitigatethedroughtsituations.

I t setsatargetofprocuring1.5lakhl i tresofmilkdaily

Bananagrowersreelunderpestattack

BananaskipperbutterflylarvaehavehitplantationsinthreetaluksofUdupidistrictBananaskipper, larvaeofachocolatebrownbutterfly,hashit theearningsofbothbananacultivatorsandbananaleafsellers.Banana plantations in many places in the district have beenaffectedbythepest ‘Erionotatorus’,alsoknownasBananaRed-Eyed Skipper, Banana Leaf Roller or Banana Skipper, leavingfarmersindistress.

The pest is a chocolate-brown butterfly belonging to the familyHesperiidae. Its larvae cut the leaves at the edges andmake aseries of cylindrical rolls before developing into pupae. It candamagewholebananaleavesleavingonlythemidribs.

Earningshit

Banana is grown in about 1,065 hectares in Udupi districtaccording to theDepartmentofHorticulture.Thepest isaffectingboth the farmers who sell bananas and those selling bananaleaves.

UpendraNayak,afarmerwhohasbeencultivatingbananasin1.5acresoflandatAjekarvillageinKarkalatalukforthelast30years,saidall the1,000bananaplants inhis fieldhadbeenaffectedbybananaskipper.

He used to earn about Rs. 2.5 lakh by selling bananas andRs.60,000bysellingplantainleaves.

“We are seeing this pest for the first time in the region. I triedeverythingtocontrolitandfailed.Ihavelostallmyearningsfrommybananaplantation.Thegovernmentshouldgivecompensationtotheaffectedbananafarmers,”hesaid.

AnotherfarmerSrikanthShenoyfromShirvavillagesaidthatofthe1,500plants inhis field,nearly200wereaffectedby thebananaskipper. “I used neem oil mixture to control it. But the pest isspreading rapidly in small banana plantations. More awarenessneedstobecreatedaboutthepesttocheckitsspread,”hesaid.

A team of agricultural scientists also surveyed the spread of thepestinthedistrict.S.U.Patil,AssociateProfessor(Entomology)attheZonalAgriculturalandHorticulturalResearchStation(ZAHRS)inBrahmavar,saidthepesthadmadeitspresencefeltinallthreetaluksofthedistrict,especiallyKarkalaandKundapur.

“We have noticed the pest in parts of Padubidri, Hebri, Ajekar,Hirgana, Kundapur, Byndoor, and Brahmavar. We have beenreceivingcalls from farmers informingusof thedamagedonebythepestandalsoseekingmeasurestocontrolit,”hesaid.

Biologicalcontrol

Agriculturalscientistssuggestbiologicalcontrolmethodstocheckthe spread of the pest. “It would be better if the farmers installtwigsorpolesnearthebananaplantationssothatcrowsandotherbirdscancomeandeatthelarvaeofthebananaskipper.

This ismosteffectiveandsafemethodtocheckitsspread,”said.Prof.Patil.Guruprasad,AssistantHorticultureOfficer, said that iftherewasmore infestationof thepest, farmerscouldmix four tofive millilitres of neem oil in a litre of water and spray it on theleaves.

“It isbetter if farmers followbiologicalcontrolmethods insteadofsprayingchemicalstocheckthepest.Beforeusinganychemicals,it isveryessential that thefarmersconsultagriculturalscientists,”Prof.Patilsaid.

InDakshinaKannada

YogeshH.R.,DeputyDirectorofHorticulture,DakshinaKannada,told The Hindu that banana skipper has been found in smallquantityinalmostallplantations.

Hesaidbananawasbeingcultivatedasaninter-cropinarecanutplantations in the district. Itwas a short-term crop.Hence itwasdifficulttogetareaunderitscultivation.

He said the department promoted naendra banana (plantain)cultivation only in 2011-12 as an inter-crop under clusterdevelopmentprogramme.

LastdateforKrishiBhagyaextendedThelastdateforsubmissionofapplicationsfortheambitiousKrishiBhagyascheme,introducedtohelpfarmersindrylandzonesandrain-fedareas,hasbeenextendedtoOctober31fromthepreviousOctober15.

The State government would provide machinery to farmers forcarrying out agricultural activities under the scheme, M.N.Rajasulochana,JointDirectorofAgriculture,toldTheHindu.

“Theobjectiveoftheschemeistopromotemoderntechnologyforincreasingagriculturaloutput.Thedepartmenthasalreadyissuedapplicationstoaround3,000farmersandreceivedtheformsfrom800farmers,”hesaid.

31centres

The department would financially assist farmers to construct afarmpondor installdrip irrigation in their fields.Applicationformswill be available at raitha samparka kendras established at 31places.

AccordingtoMs.Rajalochana,200farmersfromeachtalukwouldbeselectedundertheschemeinthedistrict.

For details, contact the department officials at the DeputyCommissioner'sofficehereoranyraithasamparkakendras.

Farmer alleges sale of “poor” certif iedseedsS.Perumal,apaddyfarmerofVaradharajapuraminSrivaikuntamtaluk,allegedthatthecertifiedseedsprocuredfromagovernment-owneddepotatSivakalaiwerenotfitforuse.

According toapetitionsubmitted toCollectorM.RavikumarhereonMonday,hesaid17bagseachcontaining50kgofpaddyseedswereprocuredfromthedepotatacostofRs.23,800onOctober7.

Hesaidtheseedsdidnothavepropergerminationrate.Citingthisproblem, he sought compensation from the Government anddemanded necessary action against officials involved inmaintainingsuchpoorqualityseedsinthedepot.

Joint Director of Agriculture, N.K. Dhakshinamoorthy, whencontacted,saidseedtestexperimentwouldbedonebasedonthepetitiontoassesthegerminationpercentageofsuchseedsandonitsoutcome,necessaryactionwouldbetaken.

NewregistrarforKAUP.V.Balachandran has taken charge asRegistrar of theKeralaAgricultural University (KAU). E. K. Mathew, who had been theRegistrar since November 2012, went on leave prior to hisretirement, stated a KAU press release here on Monday. Dr.BalachandranwasDirectorofExtensionatKAU.HealsoholdsthechargeofDirector,StateProjectPlanningandMonitoringCell.Aprofessorofagronomy,Mr.Balachandranhadearlieroccupiedtheposts of Head, Regional Agricultural Research Station, PattambiandDirector,PaddyMission,Kerala.

AWARDANNOUNCED

The Dr. C. Chandrasekharan Memorial Award for InnovativeResearch in Conservation of Forests has been announced.Sandeep Das, a Junior Research Fellow at the Kerala ForestResearch Institute, shares the award with V. P. Thomas, anAssistant Professor at Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta. Theaward,institutedinmemoryofDr.C.Chandrasekharan,anexpertintropicalforestry,carriesapurseofRs.40,000,agoldmedalandacertificateeach.

Paddycropsuffersdamage in14,000acresinEGDist.TheHudhudcyclonehadaffectedaround14,000acresofPaddycrop in upland areas of East Godavari district and about 8,000acres of banana gardens, sugarcane, beetle leaf were alsodamaged due to heavy winds followed by rains from SaturdaynighttoearlyhoursofMonday.

AccordingtoJointDirectorofAgricultureVijayakumar,thecyclonehadnotdonemuchdamagetopaddycropthistimeastherainfallinthedistrictwasnotasexpectedwhilegalespeedwaslessthan80kmthroughoutthedistrict.

Paddywas damaged due to gales and rain in upland areas likeTuni, Pitapuram, Gollaprolu and Tondangi and Kothapeta inCentralDelta.Crop is inpollinationstage inRamachandrapuram,Alamuru,AnaparthiandKakinadaRuralareas.

According to preliminary estimates of Agriculture department,cotton was partially damaged in 3750 acres and sugarcane in3190 acres.On the other hand, theHorticulture department fieldstaffsentreportstodistrictCollectorbyMondayeveningaboutthepreliminarylossesonbananagardensinthedistrict.

According to Assistant director of Horticulture, banana gardenssuffered major losses in Ravulapalem, Kothapeta, Pitapuram,Gollaprolu and few areas of Konaseema. The beetle leaf wasaffectedinTondangi,Kakinadarural,Anaparti,Alamuruandotherareas.

Desperate paddy farmers bet big on gensets Theystandlosetheirstandingcropsiftheyfailtotapgroundwater

Worried over their standing crops withering away due to severeshortageofpower,farmersinKarimnagardistrictarebuyingdieselgeneratorpumpsetsinabigway.

Withtheprospectofthousandsofacresofpaddycropsdryingupin Jagtial,Peddpalli,Manthani andHuzurabad revenuedivisions,whichispartoftheSRSPcommandarea,farmersaredesperatelypurchasinggeneratorsets.Initially,theyhopedthatthefairlygoodgroundwater table would enable them to cultivate paddy but theerraticpowersupplyhasspeltdoom.

Asalastditch-effort,farmershavebegunbuyingdieselgeneratorpumpsetstoliftwaterfromopenwellsandborewellstoirrigatethestandingcrops.

ThefarmershavebeenspendingRs.22,000toRs.50,000forthepurchaseofdieselgeneratorsetsandspendingseveralthousandsof rupees on diesel to water their crops. Freshly, the arrival ofChinadieselgeneratorshavecomeasblessingindisguisetothefarmingcommunityastheywerecostingonlyRs12,000.

Raji Reddy,a farmer from Kistapur village of Ramadugu mandalsaid,thattheyhadpurchaseddieselgeneratorpumpsetatacostof Rs. 23,000 to protect his standing crops on two acres. Theconsumption of diesel was two litres for one hour. “Though it isexpensive, there is no other way to protect our crops,” hemaintained.

“Ifwe don’t operate diesel engines, the cropswill wither andwedon’tevengetfoodforourdailyneeds,”saidTirupathiofBejjankimandal. He said China diesel engines have come in handy forfarmersbutthereisnoalternativetoelectricitysupplyasoperationofdieselengineisacostlyaffair.

Srinivas,proprietorofVenkataramanaGeneratorsinthetown,saideverydayhewasselling three to fivedieselgenerator sets.Thearrival of China-made generator sets had boosted the sales astheirprice--Rs.12,000apiece–waslowerthanthelocalbrandedones.Moreover, theywere fuel efficient, needing one litre dieselfortwohoursofoperation.

GrievancedayThe farmers’ grievances day meeting will be held at theCollectoratehereonOctober24.InareleasehereonMonday,C.Manoharan,Collector,hasappealedtofarmerstoparticipateinthemeetingandgettheirgrievancesredressed.—StaffReporter

YSRCurgesfairdealtoTScottonryotsAremunerativepriceofRs.5,500perquintalsought

The YSR Congress has demanded that the State and Centralgovernmentspurchasecottonfromfarmersthroughthedesignatedprocurementagenciesandensureminimumsupportprice.

Cotton should be procured by the Cotton Corporation of India(CCI) and farmers should be paid a remunerative price of Rs.5,500perquintalinsteadoftheMSPofRs.4,050perquintalfixedby the Centre as the farmers were in deep distress, workingpresident of theYSRC in TelanganaP.SrinivasaReddy,who isalsoKhammamMP,andparty leaderB.JanakPrasadsaidhereonMonday.

Speaking to newspersons, they said the Telangana RashtraSamithi(TRS)hadpromisedtoworkforthewelfareofthefarmersanditwastimetherulingpartykeptitsword.

The situation was bad as farmers were being exploited bymiddlemenbypaying justRs.3,000perquintalof cottonagainsttheMSPofRs.4,050.

CottonwasthemajorcropcultivatedinTelanganaandthisyearitwas cultivated in an extent of 17 lakh hectares, next only toGujarat, theystatedadding that thegovernmentshouldensureafairdealtocottonfarmers.

AYSRCdelegationwould soonmeet theChiefMinister and theGovernorseekingtheirinterventiontohelpthefarmers,theysaid.

Fall ingrubberpricehitsryotsThe falling price of rubber has started hitting hundreds of small-scalefarmersinKozhikode.Government-levelinitiativesareyettocome up to procure raw rubber and ensure them a bettersupportiveprice.

In Thiruvambadi, Mukkam, Koodaranji, Thamarassery andKoombara, farmers no longer appoint labourers to tap rubber astheydonotgetareasonablereturntomeettheproductioncost.

Currently, farmers get Rs.93 a kg of rubber, which was pricedabove Rs.250 till recently. Though the market rate of ‘A’ graderubber is currently Rs.120, farmers are not guaranteed this sumbecause of the uncompromising grading process of localmerchants.

Chil l i farmerscomplainagainstcoldstorageunitAfterbeingallegedlydupedby themanagementofa town-basedcold storage unit last year, around 18 chilli farmers fromKhammam, Warangal and Krishna districts have been runningfrompillartopostseekingjustice.

Accordingtosources,theaggrievedfarmershaveearlierlodgedacomplaintagainsttheerrantmanagementofthecoldstorageunitwiththethree-townpoliceinthepast.

In their complaint, they maintained that they have stored hugequantity of their chilli produce in that particular cold storagesituatedunderthethreetownpolicestationlimitslastyear.

Disruption in urea supply may hit sambafarmers

IFFCO urea bags being unloaded from a goods wagon inTiruchi.—FILEPHOTO:R.M.RAJARATHINAMDisruption inureasupply is likely tohit thesamba farmers in theCauverydeltadistrictsafterMadrasFertiliserLimitedandSouthernIndiaPetrochemicalsLimited(SPIC)suspendedproduction.

A cross-section of urea dealers in Pudukottai district said thesupply had come to a grinding halt sinceOctober 1, causing anacute scarcity and urged the Union Ministry of Chemicals andFertilisertokeepupthesupply.

L.Kailasanathan,State jointsecretaryof theTamilNaduVanigarSangankalin Peravai, said that with the samba cultivationgatheringpaceatandaroundAranthangiandAvudaiyarkovilinthedistrict, farmers were bound to face a crisis. The Centre shouldallowthetwonaphtha-basedunitstomakeurea,hesaid.

Imports

However, official sources said the Centre had taken steps toensureuninterruptedureasupplythroughimports.

A50-kgbagofureamadebythegas-basedunitscostRs.270.Onthe other hand, the naptha-based urea would cost Rs. 2,000-Rs.2,500,thesourcessaid.

Pranab interacts with Indian scientists atArcticstationAs five Indian scientists from “Himadri,” India’s Arctic station atSvalbard, listened inbyvideo link,adireclimatechangewarningthatlinkedvaryingmonsoonpatternsinIndiawithArcticicemeltswas presented to President Pranab Mukherjee on Mondayevening.

Jan-GunnarWinther,directoroftheNorwayPolarInstitute,saidatthe Fram maritime museum that scientists had consistentlyunderestimatedtheprocessofclimatechange.

Sitting alongsideNorwegianKingHaraldV, PresidentMukherjeeasked the five scientists about the links they had managed toestablishbetweenArcticicemeltingandmonsoonpatternchangesinIndia.

“Iwishyouallsuccess,” thePresident toldthefivescientistswhowere standing in snow at temperatures ofminus five degrees atthe“Himadri”station.HesaidtheIndiansattheArcticstationweretakingrisksbysubjectingthemselvestothecold,hostileclimate.

Mr. Mukherjee also sought suggestions from three Indian Ph.Dcandidates Archana Mesram, Srikumar Rai and Tina Chauhan,whojoinedinbyaseparatevideolinkfromtheUniversityCentre,Svalbard, on how India-Norway cooperation could be takenforward.

Ms.MesramsaidbeingabletostudyinNorwaypresentedahugeopportunity for her and suggested to the President that moreIndian universities should be involved in research activities withtheirNorwegiancounterparts.

Dr.Winther,onhispart,saidtheperiodoftheIndianmonsoonwasgettinglongerwhilerainfallwasgettingconcentrated.

Earlier, King Harald V received the President at the AkerhausCastleevenasafewschoolchildrenstoodaroundwavingIndianandNorwegianflagsonasunnyMondaymorning.

Mr.Mukherjeealsovisited theNorwegianParliament,orStorting,wherehewasgreetedbyitsPresidentOlemicThommessen.

A dire cl imate change warning that l inked varyingmonsoon patterns in India with Arctic ice melts waspresentedtothePresident

Keeping the disaster-response apparatusprimedforactionTrainingpeople tobeeffective ‘first-responders’ in theeventofanaturalcalamityisoneofthekeyprioritiesoftheCityCorporation’sdisastermanagementcell.

Last year,16municipalwardswerechosen for the firstphaseoftheCommunity-basedDisasterRiskManagementProgramme.Acomprehensive training programme for 200 people was heldrecently.

Despite the delayed start, Corporation officials are confident ofgatheringmomentum.Theywillsoonselect40morewardsbeforetheendofthefinancialyear,inMarch.

The200participantsofthetrainingsessionwassplitintofourtaskforces handling shelter management, evacuation, first aid, andsearchandrescue.

Twoagencies,ProfexcelandAngels,alongwith trainersfromtheNational Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Arakkonam, handledthe trainingsessionsat theSt.Antony’sChurch,ValiyathuraandtheCorporation.

NDRF trainers demonstrated rescue and evacuation techniquesfordifferentsituations.Teachingoffirst-aidtechniquesoccupiedabulk of the programme and this included sessions oncardiopulmonaryresuscitation.

Making various knots using ropes are vital during rescueoperations,especiallyinhigh-risebuildingsandtrenches,RameshKrishnan,atrainer,said.

Thiscommunity-basedprogrammefallsunder thecomprehensiveUS Agency for International Development (USAID)-supportedClimateRiskManagementProject inUrbanAreas.It issupportedby the supported United Nations Development Project (UNDP).EightIndiancitieswerechosenforrevampofthecurrentdisastermanagementsystem.

Thedismalstateof thecity’s infrastructure, in termsofmanagingcalamities,wasapparentduringthemonsoon.

TheDistrictPlanningCommitteehassanctionedRs.32lakhfortheCorporation to procure essential equipment and carry outawarenessdrives,theysay.

Trainingtomakeresidentseffective‘f irst-responders.’

Cane farmers, not banks, have first r ightoverduerecoverysum,saysSCRegretting suicides by farmers owing to financial distress, theSupremeCourtonMondayheldthatthefarmersinUttarPradeshwill have precedence over the banks for recovery of their duesafterthestategovernmentauctionsthesugarstocks.A bench led by Chief Justice of India H L Dattu rejected theappealsbystate-ownedStateBankof IndiaandPunjabNationalBank,whichsoughtpriorityover thefarmersassugarmills inUPgetreadytorepaythedues.Upholding theAllahabadHighCourtorder, thebenchsaid that itcouldnotputfarmers’livesatriskandthattheymusthavethefirstright over the proceeds of selling sugar by the mills for therecoveryoftheirdues.“Let the farmers also live on this planet…in this country. This iswhy farmers in this country are committing suicide. Farmerscannotbeputat risk,”said thebench,while turningdownbanks’appeals.The Allahbad HC had directed mills to pay dues to farmers onpriority by October 31. It had asked the Akhilesh Yadav-government to auction sugar seized frommills and distribute theentire sale consideration towards clearing cane dues to farmersthroughtherespectiveDistrictMagistrates.Banks,however,expressedconcernsover loans toprivatesugarmillersinthestateturningintoNon-PerformingAssetsandarguedthat they should get back themoney they loaned to themills onprioritybasis.

Seekingthefirstrightontheliquidationproceeds,thebankshavetoldtheapexcourtthatsuchHCorderwoulderodetheircollateralvalue and further discourage lending to the cash-starved sugarindustryinUP.Thebanks intheirappealsfurthersaidtheHCorderwouldresultintheentiresaleproceedsofmillsgoingtowardscanepayments,thusnothingwouldbe left formillerstopay loan installmentsandthiswouldaffectthebanks.

- Seemoreat:http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/cane-farmers-not-banks-have-first-right-over-due-recovery-sum-says-sc/#sthash.sMWQG6Hl.dpuf

Telanganareducesrabifarmingestimate

Based on themonsoon and water storage capacities in projectsandwaterbodies, the farmerswill sowpaddy, cotton, sugarcaneandmaize crops. In rabi, farmers prefer ID crops. Cultivation ofpaddy is not encouraged during rabi citing shortage of water.Pictureforrepresentationalpurpose.NIZAMABAD: For the first time in the last 25 years, theagriculture department in Nizamabad district has reduced theestimateofcultivationareaforrabi,comparedtolastyear,duetounfavorableclimaticconditions.

In view of the prevailing drought-like conditions in the district,officials estimated that crops would be grown in only 2,03,900hectares.Duringlastrabi,cropsweregrownin2,50,269ha.

Usually, officials would propose cultivation of crops in extendedarea,comparedtothepreviousseason,butthistime,officialshavegoneforreducedestimates.

In kharif, usally, paddy is cultivated ina largerextent.Basedonthemonsoon andwater storage capacities in projects andwaterbodies, the farmerswillsowpaddy,cotton,sugarcaneandmaizecrops.Inrabi,farmerspreferIDcrops.

Cultivationofpaddyisnotencouragedduringrabicitingshortageof water.This time, the drought-like conditions are promptingofficialstoencouragefarmerstogrowIDcrops.

Accordingtostatisticsavailablewiththeagriculturedepartment,crops were sown in around 2.5 lakh hectares in last rabi. Atpresent,thepaddysownareaisrestrictedtoonly60,000hectaresagainst1,08,689hainlastseason.

Onthesamelines,estimatesregardingcoarsegrains,pulsesandcommercial crop area has also been reduced.Speaking to thisnewspaper, assistant director of agriculture MA Wazid HussainsaidneverhadSeptemberbeensodrywithoutanyrain.

ThreefarmersendlifeinTelanganaeveryday

Over 30 suicides, have been reported from Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s homedistrictMedak,mostlyfromGajwel,DubbakaandSiddipet.(Photo:DC/File)

Hyderabad:Over 230 suicides by farmers have been reportedsince Telangana was formed four months ago. At least threesuicidesarebeingreportedeveryday.Thefailureofcropsduetolackof rainfall, power supplyanddelay in implementing thecroploanwaiverschemearestatedtobethereasons.

OnSunday,fivesuicideswerereportedfromAdilabad,Nalgonda,MahbubnagarandKarimnagar.Outofthe230deathssofar,only70wereregisteredasdistresssuicides.Thevictims’familiesclaimthat all the deaths were due to failure of crops and inability torepay debts. They alleged that the government was avoidingrecordingthesuicidesasbeingtheresultofdistress.

Over 30 suicides, have been reported from Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao’s home district Medak, mostly from Gajwel,Dubbaka and Siddipet. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao isplanning to tour the districts to instil confidence among farmersbesides sending ministers to counter the onslaught by theOpposition TD and Congress. Both parties have toured districtsandofferedfinancialassistancetothefamilies.

IrrigationministerHarishRaolashedoutat theCongressandTDforpoliticisingfarmerssucides.

“It’sridiculousthatCongressandTD,whichareresponsibleforthepowerwoesinTelanganawiththeiryearsofmisrule,aretakingupyatrastoconsolefarmersindistress,”MrHarishRaosaid.

"They are not trying to build confidence among farmers but arecreatingpanicamongthemandpromptingthemtocommitsuicide.AllourministersandMLAswillsoonvisitdistrictsandexplainthefactstofarmersaboutwhoisresponsibleforthispresentcrisisandthemeasuresbeingtakenbytheCMtoimprovepowersupplyinashortperiod."

Congress leaderandMLCShabbirAli,who is involved indistricttours, said, "Telangana has never witnesses such largescalesuicides in such a short period due to erratic power supply. Notonly suicides, several farmershavediedafter receivingelectrical

shocks as power is being supplied during odd hours. The TRSgovernment has to take responsibility for the deaths of farmersduringthelastfourmonths."

"TRSgovernmenthasspentthelastfourmonthswithBonaluandBathukamma festivals. It has money to release Rs 10 crore forBathukammaandRs30croreforBonaluandRamzan.Butithasnomoneytoofferhelpfordistressedfarmerswhoarecommittingsuicide.The inexperienceofTRSgovernment inadministration isclearly evident with its failure in handling the power issueeffectively,"saidTDMLAA.RevanthReddy.

Though TRS government had promised the crop loan waiverscheme, ithasonlypaid25percentof the totalRs17,000crorearrears so far. The farmersare yet to receive fresh loansas thebanks are refusing lend on grounds that they have not receivedanycommunicationonthemattersofar.

“It’sridiculousthatCongressandTD,whichareresponsibleforthepowerwoesinTelanganawiththeiryearsofmisrule,aretakingupyatras to console farmers in distress," said irrigation minister T.HarishRao.

“They are not trying to build confidence among farmers but arecreatingpanicamongthemandpromptingthemtocommitsuicide.AllourministersandMLAswillsoonvisitdistrictsandexplainthefactstofarmersaboutwhoisresponsibleforthispresentcrisisandthemeasuresbeingtakenbytheCMtoimprovepowersupplyinashortperiod.”

Congress leaderandMLCShabbirAli,who is involved indistricttours, said, “Telangana has never witnesses such largescalesuicides in such a short period due to erratic power supply. Notonly suicides, several farmershavediedafter receivingelectricalshocks as power is being supplied during odd hours. The TRSgovernment has to take responsibility for the deaths of farmersduringthelastfourmonths.”

“TRSgovernmenthasspentthelastfourmonthswithBonaluandBathukamma festivals. It has money to release Rs 10 crore forBathukammaandRs30croreforBonaluandRamzan.Butithasnomoneytoofferhelpfordistressedfarmerswhoarecommittingsuicide.The inexperienceofTRSgovernment inadministration isclearly evident with its failure in handling the power issueeffectively,”saidTDMLAA.RevanthReddy.

Though TRS government had promised the crop loan waiverscheme, ithasonlypaid25percentof the totalRs17,000crorearrears so far. The farmersare yet to receive fresh loansas thebanks are refusing lend on grounds that they have not receivedanycommunicationonthemattersofar.

Tobaccopanel for increase in thepermissible ageto25from18Advertisements of tobacco products in the tradit ionalmediaarebannedinIndiaThe panel formed by the Union ministry of health and familywelfaretoreviewtheCigarettesandOtherTobaccoProductsAct,2003,hascomeoutwithitssuggestions.

These include a ban on advertisements of tobacco products atpoints of sale, banning the saleof loose cigarettes sticks, heftierfinesonviolationsoftheActandincreasingthepermissibleageforbuyingtobaccoproductsto25from18.

The panel was formed in July. It was led by RameshChandra,advisor at the ministry.Accordingto the proposedrecommendationsbythecommitteethenewamendedactmaybecalledtheCOTPA2014.

It has recommended that saleof loosecigarettesticksortobaccoproducts in loose should be completely banned as it makes itcheaperand convenient for youngsters to avail themselves oftobaccoproducts.

It hasalso been recommended in the report that the minimumlegal age for buyingtobacco products should be increased to 25years.At present anyone 18 or abovecan buy tobacco productsandcigarettes.

If implemented,the move could dent profits of major cigarettecompaniesinIndiaasasubstantialchunkoftheirconsumersareintheagegroupof 18-25.AGlobalAdultTobaccoSurveyof 2010conducted among 15 and above, 35 per cent of the adultpopulationinIndia(15orabove)consumetobacco:47percentofmalesand20percentoffemales.

Advertisements of tobacco products in the traditional media arebanned in India, afurther ban at point of sale has beenrecommendedbytheexpertcommittee.

Pont of sale are usually flooded with bannerand poster ads ofvarious tobacco products specially, cigarettes.Therecommendationsby theChandra led committee further point outto the needs of amending provisionswhich would lead intocomplete smoking ban from public places to tobacco freepublicspace.

It has recommended deleting the section 4 of the act whichwouldresult into prohibition of smoking into smoking areas ofhotels andrestaurants.Whilethe recommendations are surely notgoingtobefavouritesamongcigarettemanufacturesofthecountrythe fines for violations of the act are going to make it toughforthesecompanies.

Under section 20 of provisionfor punishment for failure to givespecified warning and nicotine and tarcontents, the penalty hasrecommended to increase the fine to Rs 50,000 fromthe currentlevelofRs5000forfirstconviction.

For smoking in public places,the penalty amount should not belessthanRs200butwhichmayextendtoRS1,000.Similarly,thepenaltyforadvertisementsoftobaccoproductsfineshouldbetentimesfrom the current level of Rs 1000 for first conviction. Forselling tobaccoproducts toapersonbelow theageof18 thefineshould be between Rs 500 -1000, the committee hasrecommended.

Teapricesexpectedtoriseagain,by10%Lower production may lead to 10% rise in comingmonths

Teaprices are likely to increaseby around10per cent over thenextfewmonths,withloweravailability.TeaBoardfiguresforthiscalendaryear,tillAugust,sayproductioninNorthIndia—thetermcoversAssam,WestBengalandall otherstatesoutside the foursouthern ones — was 543.6 million kg as compared to 561.6millionkginthesameperiodlastyear.

Theindustrydoesnotexpectavailabilitytoimproveinthecomingmonths,asthethree-monthleanseasonstartsinNovember.

“Fromnowon,priceswillmoveup,”saidAzamMonem,additionalvice-chairmanoftheIndianTeaAssociation.

Asked to what extent, he said nine to 10 per cent.Till August,productioninSouthIndia,was158.5mnkgascomparedto147.7mnkglastyearinthisperiod.

As a consequence, auction prices were down Rs 16.3 akg.AvailabilityinNorthIndiahasbeenanissuethisyearfromthestart of the season due to weather conditions. Till May, shortfallwasashadeshyof20mnkg.“Thisyear,wearelikelytoendwithashortfallof30-35mnkg,”saidMonem.

Total production in calendar year 2013 was 1.2 billion kg. Eachyear,consumptiongrowsbyaround30mnkg.The lower availability has kept prices on the higher side. Up toSeptember,theaveragepriceofNorthIndiateawasRs155akgasagainstRs148akglastyear.Packetteacompaniespassedontheincreasetoconsumersacoupleofmonthsearlier.Thattheend-seasonshortfallislimitedto30mnkgisduetolowerexport to Britain and Pakistan. “Exports are lower as Kenyanprices have been competitive,” Monem explained. Till July,productioninKenyawashigherby1.7percentoverlastyear.Worldteaproduction,tillAugust,waslowerby0.5percent,ledbyIndiaandUganda.

Punjab,Haryanaprocure2milliontonnesofpaddy

Paddy procurement for the 2014 kharif season has started witharrivalofthecropinthegrainmarketsofPunjabandHaryana.Thearrivalsareatalmost thesamepaceas lastyearand twomilliontonneshavebeenprocuredinthetwostates.Punjab and Haryana are the early procurement states whereprocurementstartedregistering fromOctober1.Punjabprocured1.08milliontonnestillOctober12,comparedto1.23milliontonnesinthefullkharifseasonof2013.The procurement is still on in Punjab till the middle ofNovember.ProcurementinHaryanastoodat9.2milliontonnestillOctober12,whichissimilartothelastseason.The procurement in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and KarnatakawouldstartfromOctober26.The month of November is crucial for paddy procurement asAndhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, TamilNadu, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh would be harvestingtheirpaddycropstaggeredthroughoutthemonth.

In West Bengal and Jharkhand, the crop would mature inDecember.Cyclone Hudhud, which hit the coastal areas ofAndhra Pradesh, might not affect the paddy crop because thedistricts affected by the cyclone do not contribute significantly totheprocurementofpaddy,saidanofficialintheFoodCorporationofIndia.There might be some insignificant drop in the procurement andthatwillnotcreateadentinthetotalprocurement.TheUnionfoodministry had projected paddy procurement of 30 million tonnes;thisislikelytoremain28milliontonnes,becauseofthewithdrawalofbonusonminimumsupportprice(MSP)incertainstates,fallinareaundernon-basmativarieties inPunjab,andafall in levyriceobligationfrom75percentto25percentinAndhraPradesh.Underlevy-riceregime,themillersdirectlybuypaddyfromfarmersandsellricetogovernmentagenciesatMSP.

Basmati prices fall as Punjab opens upmarket tootherstatesThe Basmati paddy price plunged to Rs 2,000 a quintalin the beginning of the kharif season this year, Rs1,500-Rs 2,000 a quintal lower compared with thecorrespondingperiodlastyear

A fall in the price of basmati rice in Punjab has been registeredafterthePunjabgovernmentopenedthedoorsforthemillersfromotherstates,drivingupthedemandforBasmatipaddy.

The Basmati paddy price plunged to Rs 2,000 a quintal in thebeginning of the kharif season this year, Rs 1,500-Rs 2,000 aquintallowercomparedwiththecorrespondingperiodlastyear.

BecauseoftheexcessmillingcapacityofHaryanamillsandlowerpriceinPunjab,HaryanamillerswantedanaccesstoPunjabgrainmarket tooptimallyutilise their capacitiesandpick thegrainatamoreviableprice.

ThePunjabgovernment isnowoffering thesameconcessions tothemillersoperatingoutsidePunjabastheywereofferingtolocalmillers.Anexemptionofonepercent inmarket feeandonepercentinruraldevelopmentfundisofferedtotheHaryanamillerstosafeguardtheinterestsofthefarmers.

ThishashelpedrestorethebasmatipaddypriceintherangeofRs2,300 to Rs 2,600 a quintal, said Vikas Khosla, a rice miller inHaryana.Haryana farmers are getting Rs 2,600 to Rs 2,950 aquintal fordifferentvarietiesofbasmati.A fall inbasmatipriceoffive per cent to 10 per cent is expected in both the states inNovemberwhentheharvestingisatitspeak.

The basmati acreage in Punjab is 860,000 hectares and is750,000 hectares in Haryana. An annual crop size of basmatipaddy of five million tonne in Punjab and 4.2 million tonne inHaryanaisprojectedthisyear.

The sharp fall in Basmati price is the outcome of the tepidinternationaldemand.Buttradersexpectthedemandtoreviveasthestockswith theBasmaticonsumingcountriesmaynot last forlong.

Weakcuessaprubber

Kottayam, October 13:Spot rubber closed unchanged onMonday. The market opened better but surrendered the earlygainslaterfollowingaweakclosingontheNMCE.Thetrendwaspartiallymixedaslatexlostfurtheronlowdemand.

Sheet rubber finished steady atRs. 122.50 a kg, after hitting anintra-day high of Rs. 123, according to traders. The gradeweakened to Rs. 122 ( Rs. 122.50) and Rs. 119 ( Rs. 119.50)respectively,accordingtotheRubberBoardanddealers.

OctoberfuturesdeclinedtoRs.124(Rs.124.94)NovembertoRs.118.82 ( Rs. 120.21), December to Rs. 118.30 ( Rs. 119.91),JanuarytoRs.118.25(Rs.119.90)andFebruarytoRs.119.50(Rs.120.34)ontheNationalMultiCommodityExchange.

RSS3(spot)improvedtoRs.96.09(Rs.95.63)atBangkok.

Spotrubberrates(Rs./kg):RSS-4:122.50(122.50);RSS-5:116(116);Ungraded:108(108);ISNR20:105.50(105.50);andLatex60%:81(82).

Diwalibuyingl ightsupcardamommarket

Kochi, October 13:Thecardamommarketgainedflavour lastweek on demand for Diwali despite higher arrivals at auctions.However, supply, currently, is below compared with the sameperiodayearago.Thearrivallastweekstoodat576tonneswhileit was at around 730 tonnes in the corresponding week lastseason.

Exporters have slowed down buying after “Bakrid” demand gotover.Butfreshordersareexpectedfromnextweek,tradesourcesinBodinayakannur toldBusinessLine .Theyboughtanestimated60tonneslastweek.

Even at Monday’s auction in Bodinayakannur, conducted by theCardamomPlantersAssociation,55tonnesofcardamomarrived.Ofthis,54tonnesweresoldandtheaveragepricewas727.54akg.

Accordingtotraders,thisisonthehigherside.Auctionslastweekwere held after a five-day long holiday and hence there arrivalsincreased.

Atthesametime,everyone,especiallyTamilNadugrowers,soldtomeettheirexpensesforDiwali.

Meanwhile,buyersallover thecountryarealsoactivelycoveringtomeet festival demand. Therefore, themarketwitnessed a firmtrend.

At theSundayauctionheldby theKeralaCardamomProcessingandMarketingCompany,arrivalswere113tonnesonSundayandalmost the entire quantity was sold out, PC Punnoose, GeneralManager,CPMCtoldBusinessLine.

ThemaximumpricewasRs.1,007akgandtheminimumwasRs.557akg.TheauctionaveragewasRs.754.19akg,hesaid.

TheindividualauctionaveragemoveduplastweektobetweenRs.725andRs.760akgfromRs.700-720akgaweekago.

Supplyof8mmboldcontinuedtoremainthinandgoodcolourboldcapsuleswerefetchingRs.980akg.

Total arrivals during the season stood at 3,801 tonnes against5,110tonnesduringthesameperiodayearago.

Sales were 3,727 tonnes against 4,896 tonnes. The individualauction average, as on October 12, was around Rs. 737 a kgagainstRs.587akgayearago.

Pricesof graded varieties (Rs. /kg): 8mmbold (950-980); 7mm-8mm(825);6mm-7mm(730-740);below6mm(650-660).

Foodgrainstockshit47.93mtonOctober1

Bangalore, October 13:FoodgrainstocksintheCentralPoolstoodat47.93milliontonnesasonOctober1,morethantwicethebuffernormsandstrategicreservesfortheperiod.Balancesheet

The stocks included 32.85 mt of wheat and 15.08 mt of rice,according to provisional estimates by the Food Corporation ofIndia. Stocks with FCI were estimated at 26.23 mt, while Stateagencies held the rest. The high and comfortable Central Poolfoodgrain stocks, ahead of the commencement of the kharifharvest season, should augur well for the Government as thecountryfacedtheweakestmonsoonthisyearsince2009.

Loweroutput

The erratic monsoon is expected to impact the productivity andproduction of most of the kharif crops including rice this year.According to the first advance estimates, foodgrain productionduringkharifthisyearisexpectedtobelowerbyabout8.97mtataround120.27mt.Riceoutput isestimatedat88.02mt, lowerby3.67mtascomparedwith lastkharif’srecordproductionof91.69mt.

Monsoonwoes

Thedelayedrecoveryinmonsoonthathasenhancedsoilmoisturelevelsshouldboosttheprospectsforrabiorwintersowings.

Why Vadodara agri producemarket is a hitamongfarmers?Better infrastructurehelpsattract regular flowof produce, reducevariabilityinpricesandarrival

Theunder-utilisationofpotentialofthecountry’sagricultureliesinthe fact that in India there is dire need of services that areessential for development. A single factor cannot be heldresponsible for absence of facilities but lack of innovations inmarketing practices has been a major curse till recent past. InIndia,institutionalinnovationshaveemergedrecentlytoovercometheissueswhichfarmersface.

Theseinnovativeorganisations/practicescanprovidegrowersanarray of services including better management of their produce,better market access, negotiating power, access to informationandknowledge.

It is imperative to recognise the critical role of these innovativeorganisations/practices tobemoreeffective insupporting farmerstouplifttheirsocio-economicstatus.

Institutional innovation has a deeper and fundamental meaningwhich defines the rationale for the existence of such bodies indeveloping an environment, which is more democratic. Suchinnovation should not only be a supportive mechanism for thestakeholdersbutalsoamodelthatcanbereplicated.

There is a need to bring institutional innovations in APMC byredefining the roles of stakeholder, using information technology,dismantlingthepresent trade-offsandexpandingtheapproachofAPMC to that of being service organisation to make themeconomicallyviableforfarmers.

There is also a necessity to make the agricultural marketsenvironmentally sustainable by making them responsive towardthe recycling of waste, maintaining the energy of ecosystem ofmarket.

Though the APMCs in the country are being criticised and arefacingbleak future, theAPMCatVadodarahasestablished itselfas a centre of excellence in catering to the need of farmers bypromoting three market yards – Sayajipura, Hathikhana andKewdabaug. Hathikhana market of the APMC is the oldestestablishedin1958whileSayajipuraisthelatest.

Sayajipura market yard has been developed on 30 acresconsisting of 259 shops-cum-godown of grains, vegetables andpulses. The auction takes place in a covered place. All thevegetablesthatenterthemarketarepackedindifferentsizesandpackingmaterial.Themarketiswell-equippedwithacoldstorageof3,750tonneswhichhasbeenbeneficialtofamersandtradersinenablingthemtostoretheirproduceinthemarketitself.

Other features of the yard are wide approach road, privatetelephone exchange, 100-tonne ripening chamber for banana,mango and papaya, organic waste converter, an informationsystem to address issues relating to farmers and soil healthlaboratory.

The integrated model of APMC Sayajipura with all basicinfrastructureaswellasmodernconceptsinagriculturemarketingattractedpeakarrivaloffruitsmainlybanana,papayaandmango.The ripening chamber of 100-tonne capacity has been optimallyutilised by traders for ripening banana and papaya. The post-harvest facilities suchas cold storageand ripeningchambers forperishable horticulture produce serve as an effective tool forgetting better return for the produce and also help in avoidingwastageatmarkets.TheAPMChas the right focus inexplainingtheconceptofenvironmentalsustainabilityofamarketyard.

Prior to establishment of Sayajipura market, the yearly averageincomeofAPMCVadodarawaslimitedtoRs.149lakh,whilethesamewasworkedouttoRs.493lakhinpost-establishmentperiodofSayajipuramarket.During2011,when thecoldstorage facilitywasstarted,arrivalsgrewby12percentcomparedwithpreviousyear.

Against this during the same year, the arrival has halved inHathikhana market yard. Similarly during 2012, the Sayajipuramarketyardstartedfacilityofripeningchamber.Themarketagainwitnessedagrowthof11percentwhereasthepaceofgrowthinHathikhanamarketyardwas8percentonly.

Currently, study indicates that with establishment of moderninfrastructure, the incomeandarrivalof theAPMCVadodarahasincreasedmanifold.Themoderninfrastructurehelpedinattractingregularflowofproduceandthusreducedvariabilitybothinpricesandarrival.

Itisrecommendedthatbasedontheproducepatterninthemarketarea of APMC, themodern infrastructure should be promoted atyard level so that produce flows are regular in the yard andmarketsaremorestabilised.

Authors are associated with National Institute of AgriculturalMarketing,Jaipur.Viewsarepersonal.