K'taka to set up 50 more Raitha Santhes to help farmers

Bangalore, Feb 22 (UNI) As part of its efforts to facilitate direct marketing for farmers, the Karnataka Government has decided to set up 50 more Raitha Santhes at district and taluk level, besides 100 Gram Santhes at hobli level during this year, Agriculture Produce Marketing Minister Sharanabasappagouda Darshanapur informed today.

Talking to reporters here, he said the government had also planned to set up four mega markets in the city during the year to help farmers approach the urban market directly to sell their produce. Location for the markets would be identified soon, he added.

The Minister said that only 30 per cent of the agriculture produce had so far been sent to the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs), while the remaining was sold in the open market.

He also informed that the new government had started the process of renomination of the members to APMCs in the state.

UNI SIV RG TS1920