Stone of grain market yard laid in Riyali mand area of Fatehpur subdivision
Our Correspondent
Nurpur, July 13
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar today laid the foundation stone of a much-awaited grain market yard in the Riyali mand area of Fatehpur subdivision in Kangra district. Farmers of the mand area, known as the grain bowl of Kangra district, were being forced to sell their crops at throwaway prices to private traders in neighbouring Punjab in the absence of a grain market.
Kanwar said after laying the foundation stone that Rs 5 crore would be spent on this multipurpose market yard and Rs 1.14 crore had been earmarked for construction in the first phase. He added that the yard would be dedicated to farmers, who would be able to sell their crops, including grains, vegetables and fruits.
He said that the state government through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) had for the first time procured 1.31 lakh quintals of wheat, including 34,500 quintals in Kangra district, at the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1,975 per quintal until June 10 this year. He added that the government would procure wheat seed at Rs 2,600 per quintal from local growers next year for meeting the requirements of the farmers of the state.
The minister said that the government was spending Rs 200 crore to strengthen the Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) in the state in the current fiscal year.
Kanwar, who also holds the Rural Development portfolio, said that the government was spending Rs 950 crore from MGNREGA funds and Rs 1,550 crore from other funds on development works in gram panchayats.
The minister also presided over a meeting of the local unit of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh at Fatehpur. He said that the Central Government had enacted the three farm laws to improve the financial condition of the farmers.
