Department Activities
Department is associated with various activities such as Management of Functional Markets, Trade regulation,
Rythu Bandhu Pathakam, Maintenance of Storage facilities, support to Procurement agencies, Market
Intervention and Management of Rythu Bazars.
Functional Markets
There are 80 Functional markets managed by the Department. Breakup particulars are: Fruits – 19, Vegetables
– 22, Cattle - 29 & Grains, other commodities – 10. AMCs will regulate and facilitate in arriving at
competitive price through tender/auction, correct weighment and prompt payment in these functional markets. In
these functional markets, some Farmer facilities (Accommodation, Canteen, Bank and other amenities) have
been provided.
Trade Regulation
Trade regulation is done through issuance of Trade licenses, Monitoring of Checkposts, Inspection of Storage and
processing units and collection of Market Fee.
Rythu Bandhu Pathakam
· Introduced in 1982, as pledge finance scheme and renamed as Rythu Bandhu Pathakam in 1995.
Financing against 75 % value of produce stored in godowns (ceiling Rs. 2 Lakhs per farmer, no interest
upto 180 days).
During 2014-15, Rs. 17.83 Crores advanced to 2423 farmers.
During 2015-16 (upto January 2016) Rs. 23.75 Crores financed to 2333 farmers. following is the progress
during last 3 years under the scheme
S. No |
Year |
Phy. |
Fin. (In Lakhs) |
1 |
2013-14 |
2194 |
1533.75 |
2 |
2014-15 |
3145 |
2601.60 |
3 |
2015-16 (upto January) |
2333 |
2375.74 |
In addition to continuing the existing pattern, it is proposed to pay the interest charged by ICICI
bank on loans given to Red Gram farmers against the warehouse receipts organised by Markfed.
This proposal under examination at Government level.
Maintenance of Storage facilities
In total 1060 nos of Godowns with storage capacity of 8.48 Lakh MT is existing in Market
yards of the Department.
Sl.No |
Ware house |
Andhra Pradesh |
|
Number |
Capacity in |
||
1 |
Godowns Existing up to 2004 |
591 |
3.74 |
2 |
Godowns Existing 2004-2009 |
289 |
2.38 |
3 |
Godowns Existing 2009-2016 |
60 |
1.69 |
4 |
Godowns under Progress in RDF |
33 |
0.63 |
Total |
1060 |
8.48 |
From 2011 onwards godowns are being constructed with upgraded technology of truss less roofing system
with turbo ventilators. Due to this Roof panels of godowns are mechanically seamed (Inter-locked) and they
are free from holes, nuts, bolts, overlaps, ensures zero maintenance and also resistant to extreme weather
conditions and 100% leak proof roofs.
33 Nos of Godowns are sanctioned in 13 Districts of A.P., with 62500 MTs capacity, with an estimate cost
of Rs. 3710.00 Lakhs. All the godowns are at different stages of execution.
Accreditation and Registration of the Godowns of Agricultural Market Committees with Warehousing
Development and Regulating Authority (WDRA) has been taken up for making them fit for scientific storage.
Repairs and upgradation works have been taken up in 210 Godowns and secured Certificate of Accreditation.
302 Godowns are identified for taking up works for Accrediation.
Support to Procurement Agencies
The Market Committees are providing Storage facilities (Godowns) to procurement agencies on reasonable rent.
Procurement agencies are also supplied with various equipments such as moisture meters, electronic weighing
scales, paddy cleaners, tarpaulins etc from AMCs.
Market Intervention
Onion prices are fluctuating from time to time. Recently onion prices have fallen down in Kurnool District.
In order to ensure reasonable prices to the farmers, and to avoid distress sale, necessary Market intervention has
been started in Kurnool District. Onions are procured directly from the farmers at field level and sent to various
Rythu Bazars in Coastal Andhra Pradesh (Vijayawada and Vishakhapatnam Regions) for disposal. Onions are
procured at the price of Rs.800/- per Quintal. Onions are sold at the price of Rs. 10 to Rs. 11 per Kg in Rythu
Bazars. This intervention started from 23.02.2016 onwards. About 345 Tones of onion were procured from
37 farmers up to 02.03.2016 and sent to various Rythu Bazars.
RYTHU BAZARS
· The Rythu Bazars were established in the year 1999. The concept of Rythu Bazar was developed to facilitate direct
marketing between consumers and farmers.
· 80 Rythu Bazars are functioning in the State with Temporary/semi t permanent structures.
· No service charges and no market fee is levied in Rythu Bazars.
· Joint Collector is the Co- ordinating officer of Rythu Bazars in the District.
· Chief Executive Officer, Rythu Bazars will supervise, control and coordinate at State level.
· The main objective of Rythu Bazar is to ensure remunerative price to farmers and provide quality and fresh vegetables
to consumers at reasonable rates.
· Rythu Bazars provide direct interface between farmers and consumers eliminating intermediaries in trade.
· The Price Fixation of vegetables in Rythu Bazars will be
through a Committee of Farmers and the Estate Officer.
· The prices generally will be 25% above the wholesale rates and 25% less than the local retail prices.
· Prices are displayed through boards which are updated everyday.
· Repairs and renovation works have been undertaken in 34 Rythu Bazars.
· New Rythu Bazars have been sanctioned at S.Kota (Vijayanagaram Dist.), Mandapeta and Peddapuram (E.G.Dist),
Velpur/Tanuku (WG Dist), Kuchipudi (Krishna Dist) and Ponnur (Guntur Dist). works are under progress.
· Proposals for the following New Rythu bazaars are under process at District level.
District |
Location |
Srikakulam |
Tekkali |
Kotabommali |
|
Vizianagaram |
Kothavalasa |
Gajapathinagaram |
|
East Godavari |
Samarlakota |
Anaparthy |
|
Mummadivaram |
|
West Godavari |
Koyyala gudem |
Janga Reddy Gudem |
|
Krishna |
Pedana |
Challapally |
|
Anantapuram |
Dharmavaram |
Guntur |
Macharla |
New Initiatives in Rythu Bazars
Recently the following initiatives have been takenup in the Rythu Bazars Arranged “Rythu Seva” in all
Rythu Bazars for providing information and services to farme
Cold storage units are provided in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati.
Repairs and Renovation works have been taken up in 34 Rythu Bazars.
CCTV surveillance system has been introduced in 21 Rythu Bazars
Action is underway to automate various activities of Rythu Bazar such as arrivals, disposal, farmers
information and electronic price display.
Necessary steps are being taken up to form groups of vegetable farmers and to make arrangements for collection and aggregation at village level, and distribution to Rythu Bazars and other consumption centres in urban areas.