10 MORE NEW MARKET YARDS IN THE STATE
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In a major move to support the agricultural sector, the Telangana government has announced the establishment of 10 new agricultural market yards across the state. These market yards will be built in key agricultural regions including Prakasam, Khammam, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, and several other districts. The project is expected to greatly benefit farmers by improving infrastructure, increasing transparency in pricing, and enhancing overall marketing efficiency for agricultural produce.
A Step Toward Farmer Welfare
Agriculture is the backbone of Telangana’s economy, with a large portion of the population depending on farming for their livelihood. However, small and marginal farmers often face challenges such as lack of proper market access, exploitation by middlemen, and unfair prices for their crops. To address these long-standing issues, the state government has decided to invest in new and modern agricultural market yards.
These new yards will serve as organized centers where farmers can sell their produce directly, without the interference of middlemen. This step is expected to ensure that farmers receive fair prices for their crops and reduce the burden of additional costs.
Better Infrastructure and Facilities
The new market yards will be equipped with modern infrastructure and facilities. These include:
Weighing machines to ensure accurate measurements
Cold storage units to preserve perishable items
Grading and sorting facilities to improve product quality
Auction platforms for transparent pricing
Online trading systems for wider market access
With these features, farmers will not only save time and money but also get better returns for their produce. The government is also planning to introduce digital payment systems in all the new yards to ensure quick and safe transactions.
Locations Chosen Strategically
The choice of locations like Prakasam, Khammam, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, and others is strategic. These districts are known for their strong agricultural base and high crop productivity. By establishing market yards in these regions, the government aims to reduce the distance farmers have to travel to sell their goods.
Currently, many farmers in remote villages have to transport their produce to faraway markets. This increases their expenses and reduces profit margins. With the new market yards closer to farming communities, farmers will be able to reduce transportation costs and save valuable time.
Promoting Transparent Pricing
One of the major issues in existing agricultural markets is the lack of price transparency. Farmers often don’t know the real market price for their goods and end up selling at lower rates. The new market yards will introduce open auction systems and real-time price displays to make the pricing process fair and visible to all.
The integration of eNAM (National Agriculture Market) technology is also being planned, which will allow farmers to view prices and sell produce online, opening up access to buyers across the country.
Empowering Small and Marginal Farmers
The government’s focus is especially on helping small and marginal farmers, who make up more than 80% of the state’s farming population. These farmers usually have limited access to market information and storage facilities. The new market yards will level the playing field by giving them the same advantages as larger farmers.
In addition, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) will be encouraged to use these yards. By working in groups, farmers can collectively bargain for better prices, reduce costs, and increase their earnings.
Boost to Rural Economy
Apart from directly benefiting farmers, the establishment of new market yards will also help boost the rural economy. It will create local jobs related to transportation, packaging, storage, and administration. Shops and businesses around these market yards are also expected to grow, leading to better livelihoods for people living in those areas.
Government’s Commitment
Officials from the Telangana Agriculture Department have stated that the construction of these market yards will begin soon, with a clear timeline and budget already prepared. The government remains committed to improving the agriculture supply chain and ensuring that farmers are not left behind in the development process.
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