(a) whether the Government proposes to open primary markets for procurement of agricultural commodities
from the farmers and to upgrade the existing marketing infrastructure in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the funds earmarked for the same?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) to (c): Agricultural Marketing being a state subject, establishment of markets including primary markets
for agricultural commodities is within the competence of State Government. Central Government provides
assistance through various schemes for development and strengthening of market infrastructure as follows:
The Scheme for Development/Strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization
has been launched with the objective of strengthening of existing agricultural marketing infrastructure,
providing of additional agricultural marketing infrastructure and to promote competitive alternative
marketing infrastructure etc. Under the scheme, assistance is provided @25% of capital cost of the
project subject to ceiling of Rs.50 lakh for each project. Subsidy is provided @33.33% for North
East States, State of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, SC/ST entrepreneurs and
their cooperatives etc.
Under the market infrastructure component of National Horticulture Mission, assistance is provided for
creation of rural primary market/apni mandi, wholesale market and terminal market complex to link farmers
with producers. Under the scheme, assistance is provided @40% of the project cost up to Rs.20 lakh for
rural primary markets and @25% of the project cost up to Rs.100 crore for wholesale markets. In addition,
subsidy up to 40% is provided for setting up terminal market complex.
Under the programme of Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) under the Ministry of Rural Development,
there is a provision for setting up of permanent marketing centres or haats at village, district and state
level to promote the sale of products of beneficiaries covered under the programme. Assistance is provided
up to Rs.15 lakh for creation of village haats, up to Rs.1.5 crore for a district level haat and up to Rs.
3.00 crore for a haat at the state capital.
No separate funds have been earmarked for opening of primary markets for procurement of agricultural
commodities. However, procurement of food grains (wheat, paddy and coarse grains) is undertaken by
Food Corporation of India and state agencies at Minimum Support Price for which these agencies open
adequate number of procurement centres.