Mobile vegetable outlets a non-starter

Srikakulam: The State government has proposed to sell vegetables to the people through mobile outlets in urban and semi urban areas across the district one year ago. But they have become a non-starter.

In this back drop, the horticulture and marketing department officials have prepared an action plan to start the project in Srikakulam, Rajam, Palasa, Amudalavalasa, Itchapuram and Palakonda municipal towns.

The main aim of the government in proposing these outlets is to prevent exploitation of farmers by middlemen and to provide minimum support price to farmers and sell vegetables at a reasonable price to people.

According to guidelines, 15 vegetable farmers have to form a group and register it with the horticulture and marketing officials. Subsequently, the government will sanction Rs 2 lakh to them to purchase a vehicle to carry vegetables to different places in urban and semi urban areas.

Remaining amount has to borne by farmers. Vegetables and leafy vegetables are being cultivated in 10,000 acres in Etcherla, Laveru, Ponduru, Kotturu, Bhamini, Palakonda, Veeragattam, Pathapatnam, G Sigadam, Gara, Kotabommali, Srikakulam rural and Amudalavalasa mandals in the district.

But farmers failed to get minimum price as they are unable to sell it in markets. Hence, middlemen are cashing in on the situation by paying low price to farmers and getting high price from customers. The government motivated farmers to form groups to start in urban areas, but in vain. Hence, the government too did not took interest in this regard, admitted assistant director of horticulture department MA Raheem.