Department of Agricultural Marketing & Agri Business

Department of Agricultural Marketing & Agri Business Agricultural Marketing & Agri Business is to ensure fair price to the farming community by implementing new technologies aimed at reducing pre and post harvest losses through appropriate methods and encourage value addition. Agricultural Marketing infrastructure plays an important role in rural economic development. Agri Business is a process, which starts with a decision to produce a saleable farm commodity and it involves all the aspects relating to pre and post-harvest operations including grading, value addition, packaging, processing and transportation. Uzhavar Santhai: Establishment and maintenance of Farmers market (Uzhavar Sandhai) to enable the farmers get better price for their produce and the consumers get fresh fruits and vegetables at a lesser price than the retail market without any hindrance of middlemen. In Salem district, 11 uzhavar santhais are functioning at Suramangalam, Ammapet, Attur, Dadagapatti, Mettur, Hasthampatti, Attayampatti, Elampillai, Thammampatti, Jalagandapuram and Edapadi with an average arrival per day of 938 farmers and 42257 consumers. Regulated Markets: Regulated Markets act as a common platform between farmers and traders. Agricultural produce brought by the farmers to the regulated markets are sold by adopting secrete tender. No charges are collected from the farmers for the services rendered by the regulated market. In Salem District 14 regulated markets are functioning in Uthamasolapuram (Salem), Valapadi, Attur, Thalaivasal, Gangavalli, Thammampatti, Karumandurai, Sankagiri, Konganapuram, Kolathur, Mecheri, Omalur, Kadaiyampatti and Edapadi.18 godowns have been constructed in the regulated markets with capacity of 16000 MT for the welfare of farmers and traders. To avoid distress sales during glut seasons by the farmers, pledge loan up to Rs.3,00,000/- have been provided to the farmers at the rate of 5% interest (1st 15 days free) upto 180 days. To avoid post harvest losses and to get remunerative price to the fruits, vegetables and flower farmers, an Agri Business Centre was established at Olaipatti Village, Mecheri Block with pack house, 1000 MT godown, farmers service centre, 25 MT cold storage, 20 number shops, rest room, power house and weigh bridge cum office. Cold Storages: Modern cold storage facilities are set up to enable the farmers to store and sell their produce at favourable price and to help consumers to get quality food products. The main objectives are to increase the shelf life of the produce after harvest and to extend the marketing period. Cold storages are established at Mecheri (100 & 25 MT), Valapadi (25 & 25 MT), Salem, Attur and Gangavalli (each 25 MT). Formation of Farmer Producer Organisation: Integrating Farmer producer Group into Farmer Producer Organization for Agri Technology promotion and create Market linkages. There are 10 FPO’s promoted by this department. Agro Processing Cluster To create integrated modern infrastructure leading to an ideal ecosystem to facilitate diverse food processing operations and enhance the entrepreneurship options in food processing. In order to achieve this objective the Government ordered to create Agro Processing Cluster at Kanjanaickenpatti Village, Kadaiyampatti Taluk, Salem District at the cost of Rs.2575.72 lakhs. Agmark grading: Agmark is a certification mark for agriculture products assuring that the products confirm to prescribed standards. This is fully a voluntary scheme. Agmark certification issued relies on agriculture produce (grading and marking) Act of 1937 and amended in 1986. This Act is implemented by Director of Marketing and Inspection under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, an agency of Government of India. The present Agmark cover quality guidelines for 227 different commodities of Pulses, Cereals, Essential Oils, Vegetable oils, Fruits and Vegetables and semi processed products. Grading of food products are made through Agmark Laboratory for the benefit of the consumers. Ulavar Sandhai Cold storage Value added products Training to farmers TAMILNADU STATE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING BOARD TRAINING CENTRE, SALEM. Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board Training Centre is a State Level Training Centre functioning at Uthamacholapuram in Salem Market Committee campus. Infrastructure: Training centre has two smart class rooms each one in ground floor and first floor with the capacity to accommodate 20 and 40 trainees respectively. It has one Computer Training Hall with 10 computers. Training centre hostel has 24 double bedded rooms with attached bath and toilet with necessary furnishing to provide stay – in comfort for the trainees. Hostel has one farmer’s dormitory to accommodate 20 farmers along with kitchen and dining hall has a capacity to dine 40 trainees at a time. Types of Training: Trainings are conducted under the head of Joint Director of Agriculture (Training) with the assistance of three Assistant Directors of Agriculture (Training) with eleven types of training programs conducted in 30 batches. Trainings to the Market Committee Staffs: Refresher Training to Market Committee Secretaries, Graders Training, Orientation Training to newly joined Junior Assistants, Refresher Training to Supervisors and Superintendents, Storage and Computer Training to Market Committee Staffs. Trainings to the Department of Agricultural Marketing & Agri Business Officials: Training on Food Processing and Value Addition, Market Extension, Computer Training, and Refresher Trainings are given to the officials. Trainings to the Farmers (State Level): Training to the farmers, members of Commodity Interest Group / Farmers Interest Group and members of the Farmers Producer Organisation. Around 600 persons including Farmers and Officers are trained every year. In addition to the above said trainings, special training allotted by The Commissioner, Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business, Chennai are also conducted every year by this training centre. Commissioner of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business Interaction with trainees. .

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