Tamil Nadu to set up more vegetable shops, farmer markets

CHENNAI - The Tamil Nadu government Friday decided to open more vegetable shops and farmer markets to sell vegetables at cheap rates and to ask the central government to re-impose ban on future trading in sugar.

At a meeting Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi chaired and Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and other ministers attended, it was decided to hold sufficient stocks of food items and make these available to the public through ration shops. The meeting also chalked out measures to reduce the prices of food items.

According to the state government, around 20 tonnes of vegetables are currently sold through cooperative stores.

The meeting decided to open more vegetable shops in areas within major municipal corporation limits.

Last month, the state government decided to retail onion and other vegetables through cooperative stores.

The government also decided to open 25 more farmer markets - where farmers can sell their produce directly - in the state, taking the number to 179.

According to officials, currently vegetables worth around Rs.3.4 crore are daily traded by the growers and around 400,000 customers frequent the farmer markets across the state.

The state government also decided to draw out plans to increase production of pulses and oil seeds, modernise agriculture product markets and set up cold storages.

The meeting decided to study the productivity of various districts in respect of paddy and other crops and take appropriate action to increase their production.