The Department of Marketing was established on 01-02-1962 in Andhra Pradesh duly bifurcating from the Agriculture Department to enforce the provisions of the Agricultural Produce Markets Act and other schemes of the Government. A comprehensive Andhra Pradesh (Agricultural produce & Livestock) Markets Act has come into force from 18-11-1966.
The Department carries out various functions through the Agriculture Market Committees (AMCs) which are local bodies established under the Act with their own Bye-laws. There are 214 AMCs constituted in the State to enforce the provisions of the Market Act. Market Yards (including sub yards) are 324.