ABSTRACT

Agriculture – Part-II Scheme for 2010-2011 - Strengthening of State Agmark Grading Laboratories by providing 12 Nos. of Electronic Balance – Sanction – Orders – Issued. ------Agriculture (AM3) Department

G.O.(Ms) No. 113 Dated : 01.06.2010

Read:

1. From the Commissioner of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business Letter No.PLNI/567/2009, Dated 09.01.2010. 2. From the Deputy Secretary to Government, Agriculture Department U.O. Note No.20435/B&P/09-10, dated 15.04.2010

***** ORDER: In the letter first read above, the Commissioner of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business has stated that in Tamil Nadu, 30 State Agmark Grading Laboratories and one Principal Laboratory are functioning for testing of Agmark Graded products. These laboratories are functioning with minimum and age old testing facilities. The strengthening of Agmark grading Laboratories with latest equipments was carried out during 2006-07 at a cost of 25.46 lakhs as per the G.O.No.236, Agriculture (AM3) Department, dated 06.09.2006. Agmark Grading is done both for centralized commodities like ghee, oils, honey, ground , atta, Maida, Gram flour etc., and for decentralized commodities like rice, pulses, jaggery, egg, potato, So far, 191 commodities have been notified by Government of under Agricultural Produce Grading and Marking Act, 1937. The Agmark grading scheme is a voluntary scheme, which is the most beneficial, health based welfare scheme implemented for ensuring the availability of unadulterated quality food products to the consumers. Every year the Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business Department is achieving targets fully under Agmark grading scheme earmarked by the Government. The Commissioner of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business has requested that in order to cater the needs of the packers for grading their produce and for ensuring the quality to the consumers, the following facilities like provision of Electronic weighing balance may be provided to Agmark laboratories.

[P.T.O] 2. The weighing of samples is a primary step in analysis of any commodity. Accurate weighing coupled with least weighing time will enable quick results of the samples to be tested. At present 17 out of the 30 labs possess electronic balance. The remaining 12 labs at Tirupur, Perundurai, Marthandam, Thenkasi, Tuticorin, Madurai (South), Nagercoil, Karur, Trichy, Panruti, Tanjore, Dharmapuri do not possess the electronic balance. During the year (2006-07) two labs at Kangeyam II and Chithode were provided with electronic balance at a cost of Rs.80,000/-per unit. During 2010-11 remaining 12 State Agmark Grading Laboratories may be provided with electronic balance at a total cost of Rs.12.00 lakhs.

3. The Government after careful consideration decided to accept the above proposal of the Commissioner of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business and sanction accorded for a sum of Rs.12.00 lakhs (Rupees Twelve lakhs only) as non- recurring expenditure for Purchase of 12 Nos. Electronic balance for Strengthening of State Agmark Grading Laboratories in the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business under Part II Scheme 2010-2011

4. The expenditure sanctioned in para 3 above shall be debited to the following head of account.

“2435-Other Agricultural Programmes 01 Marketing and Quality Control-102 Grading and Quality Control Facilities-I, Non Plan-AA State Laboratories for Grading of Agmark Product” – 19 Machinery & Equipments-01Purchase. (DPC No.2435-01-102-AA- 1914)”

5. The Commissioner of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business is authorized to draw and disburse the amount sanctioned in para 3 above and incur the expenditure by following the rules and existing Tender procedures now in force.

6. The Commissioner of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business is also instructed to send a detailed report to Government indicating the utilization of the amount sanctioned in para 3 above.

7. This order issues with the concurrence of the Finance Department vide its U.O. No.22625/Agri/10, dated 12.05.2010.

(BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR)

K.NANDAKISHORE Agriculture Production Commissioner and Secretary to Government

To The Commissioner of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business, – 32 [P.T.O] The Chief Executive Officer, Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board Chennai -32. The Accountant General (Audit), Chennai-18/Chennai-18(B/N) The Accountant General, Chennai-18/Chennai-18(B/N) The Pay and Accounts Officer (East), Chennai-5 The Pay and Account Officer, (Secretariat) Chennai-9 Finance (Agri) (BGII) Department, Chennai-9

Copy to: Data Entry Operator, Agriculture Department Chennai - 9 SF/SC

/FORWARDED BY ORDER/

SECTION OFFICER