Markfed hikes input supply to farm sector

Hyderabad, July 24 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Market Federation (Markfed) Chairman P Prabhakar today said the supply of inputs to agriculture sector had increased to Rs 280.36 crore during 2007-08 as against Rs 70.92 crore during 2004-05.

Addressing the press here, he said in view of increased consumption of fertilisers and the gap between demand and supply and in order to save the farmers from private market vagaries, the state government appointed Markfed as a nodal agency to supply fertilizers right at the door steps of the farmers.

Stating Markfed involved primary agriculture societies, district cooperative marketing societies and village organisations for supply of fertilizers to the farmers, he said the government had also permitted Markfed to raise Rs 500 crore for pre-stocking fertilizers.

Markfed had tied up with several fertilizer-producing companies and purchased 2.48 lakh tonne of fertilizers valued at Rs 215 crore and already supplied 2.26 lakh tonne so far on the basis of allotments of the Agriculture Department.

Established in 1957,the Markfed was celebrating its golden jubilee. Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy would participate in the concluding celebrations in the city on July 27.

The Chief Minister would lay the foundation for Markfed's own building to be constructed at the cost of Rs 12 crore in the city the same day.

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