Govt to upgrade the existing grain Markets: Minister

 Himachal Pradesh Government would give more impetuous on upgrading existing nine grain market by increasing stock holding capacity and modernization of market to provide the good prices of to produce of Farmers.
Replying to a discussion raised under rule 130 by Rita Dhiman (BJP Indora,) Agriculture Minister Mr Verinder Kanwar said that instead of opening new market yard emphasis is given by the government to strengthening old one and upgrading the storage and processing facility like cold storage and grain stocks hoarding . Accepting the concern of Member Minister said that Himachal Pradesh have 90 percent  rural population who render their livelihood through agriculture and horticulture.
 “About 18 lakh metric tones of vegetables, about 8 lakh metric tones of fruits and 77.12 thousand metric tones of food grains are being produced in the state in Kharif crops and 142 thousand metric tones in Rabi crops.”
Marketing of various crops, fruits and flowers is being done through mandis as Farmers bring their crop to mandis or sub-mandis, farmers for marketing.
In order to get fair price for their produce to the farmers, proper marketing arrangements are being made in the state by the Himachal Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board and Krishi Upaj Mandi Societies.
He said that there are total 64 Markets in the state including 20 main market and 54 market yard(submarket).
He said that out of ten market nine were designate as grain market out of of which Five  grain Markets have eight procurement .
He said that about 6,72,000 metric tones of wheat, 1,35,000 metric tones of paddy and 7,62,000 metric tones of maize are being produced in the state. 
This year, a total of 8 centers were set up for procurement of wheat from the farmers of the state on support price.
 Earlier, farmers used to take their produce to the mandis of Punjab and Haryana for marketing, but this year these crops were not procured in the said states. 
The precured grain was   purchased by the Food Corporation of India till June 10, 2021 at the rate of Rs.1975 per quintal, .
This benifited 3259 farmers who have been paid Rs.25,75,20,250.  
Similarly, the following 10 centers were set up for the purchase of paddy on support price, out of which, on 10 December 2021, the purchase was made at the rate of Rs. 19.75 per kg .
He said that state recorded total production of  6.30 Lakh Metric of paddy and  1 lakh metric tons tubes to  25 lakh were purchased these Centre at the rate of Rs 19.75 per kg which have now increased to  21.50 per kg and 1129 Kissan benefited under paddy procurement at nine places.
He said that last year when Farmers are not getting price of Rs 660 per quintal. The Government intervened to provide fair price of the produce and three private wholesalers were invited who purchased Maize at the rate of Rs 1600 to Rs 2000 per quintal as 15221 quintal Maize were purchased by these private players. He said that ten per cent maize would be purchase by one whole saler 

The grain market Poanta Sahib in Sirmaur district to upgrade by enhancing storage capacity 2000 metric tones my store House.
He said that new market is being set up at  Riyyali in Indora at cost of Rs 1.28 Cr Market yard at Nalagarh at the cost Rs 2.48 Cr and  Bilaspur at cost of Rs 1.48 Cr to be would be developed at .
Online record would be developed to sold the produce if Farmers and they could sold through e-market. Land records of Farmers would be made available in new the market scheme.
APMC strength CM Jai Ram Thakur Rs250 Cr foundation stone. Apmc processing unit is being set up at Parala and APMC Centre would be set up at Kharapather. Most of farmers have land holdings of 2.50 bigha to four bigha.