Agricultural Marketing in Tamilnadu

Introduction
The Vision of the Department of Agricultural Marketing & Agri Business is to ensure fair price to the farming community who are left behind in the competitive marketing scenario and the mission of achieving this is by enforcing the existing act and rules most effectively and also by devising, implementing new technologies aimed at reducing pre and post harvest losses through appropriate methods and encourage value addition. Green Revolution initiatives achieved self-sufficiency by increasing food grains production. Simultaneously, several initiatives have been taken to promote agricultural marketing in the state. Agricultural Marketing infrastructure plays a pivotal role in fostering and sustaining the tempo of rural economic development. Marketing is as critical to better performance in agriculture as farming itself.

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. These operations add value to farm produce. The Department of Agricultural Marketing, which is functioning since 1977, with the main objective of Regulation of Agricultural Marketing, was renamed in the year 2001 as Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agri. Business in order to focus on other activities like Agri Export, Post Harvest Management, Food Processing, etc.

Restructure

One Deputy Director of Agriculture (Agri Business) for each district, one Agricultural Officer for every two blocks, one Assistant Agricultural Officer for one block have been posted as per restructuring to regulate Agri Business and encourage entrepreneurs. In 103
Uzhavar Sandhais, 51 Agricultural Officers and 52 Deputy Agricultural Officers are posted. After restructuring 239 original posts have been enhanced to 906 posts in Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business Department.

The Main Activities
1. Establishment and maintenance of Uzhavar Sandhaigal for the benefit of farmers as well as consumers.
2. To create marketing opportunities for small and marginal farmers in cultivation of fruits, vegetables and flowers by formation of groups which includes production, storing and export.
3. Establishment and maintenance of regulated markets in order to facilitate buying and
selling of agricultural produce for the benefit of the farming community.
4. Grading of agricultural produce in the regulated markets and at farm holdings to help the producers to get remunerative price for their produce.
5. To create awareness among the farmers about the benefits of grading, marketing, value addition and processing their produce through regulated markets by taking up training, publicity and propaganda.
6. To set up Agriculture Export Zones for promoting export of agricultural produce by increasing the area under exportable crops, providing necessary post harvest management and other infrastructure required and information on prices prevailing at international markets as an integrated approach through computers.
7. To take up Agmark grading of agricultural, animal husbandry and forestry products for the benefit of the consumers.
8. To set up modern cold storage facilities to enable the farmers to store and sell their produce at favourable price and to help consumers to get quality food products.
9. Food Processing Industries are promoted to minimise wastage of agricultural products,
to increase employment opportunities and to enhance foreign exchange.

MARKET COMMITTEES
At present 21 Market committees are functioning in Tamil Nadu at district Level.

There are 277 Regulated Markets, 15 Check Posts, 108 Rural Godowns and 108 grading centres functioning under the Market Committees, Competitive and remunerative prices are ensured for the produce sold by the farmers through closed tender system in the Regulated Markets. Free Grading facilities for agricultural commodities and issuing pledge loan during distress sale are also available in the Regulated Markets. The farmers of states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, sell their produce only through regulated markets as compulsory marketing is in force. 1 to 2 % of the value of the produce is collected as market fees from the traders who procure the produce from the farmers. The procurement method is simplified in Tamilnadu so as to benefit the farmer. 1% of the value of the produce is collected as market fee from traders. Action is being taken for the construction of own building for Nilgiris Market Committee and 4 regulated markets at Ooty, Kothagiri, Coonur and Gudalur during this year at a cost of Rs. 3.25 crores. Necessary steps will be taken to acquire land for this purpose through District Collector, Nilgiris.

Regulated Markets provides facilities such as correct weighment by using electronic weigh bridges and weighing balances, godown facilities, bank facility, immediate payment, daily price information, rest sheds, drinking water facility, cattle sheds, free medical aid to farmers, input shops, phone and fax facilities etc. Under "AGMARKNET" centrally sponsored scheme 93 regulated markets have been provided with computer and Internet connectivity for effective price dissemination among farmers through AGMARKNET website. The information on commodity prices prevailing in various markets is made available; the farmers would be able to get better price of their produce by moving their produce to the market which pays higher. During the year 2007-08, 100 Regulated markets were computerized through AGMARKNET. The Market Committee-wise infrastructure facilities provided in the Regulated

So far, 42 Agricultural Commodities like cereals, millets, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, turmeric, etc. have been notified. Necessary action is being taken for Uniform notification of agricultural commodities throughout the state during this financial year.

 In order to avoid distress sales by the small and marginal farmers in the peak season, Regulated Markets are issuing pledge loan to farmers. Under this scheme, the farmers can store their agricultural produce in the godowns of Regulated Markets for a maximum period of 6 months and take pledge loan of 75% of the total value of the produce upto a maximum of Rs.1,00,000. Likewise Pledge Loan facilities are extended to traders also with the rate of interest specified from time to time. Interest at the rate 9% for traders is charged for pledge loan facilities. During the previous financial year interest rates were reduced from 8% to 5% for the benefit of farmers.

Under this scheme, the farmers / tenants who sell one metric tone of paddy (or) equivalent value of their agricultural produce through Regulated Markets every year will be enrolled under this scheme and are eligible for a grant of a lumpsum amount up to           Rs. 1,00,000, in case of death/ permanent disability occurring due to accident / death due to snake bite. In case the eligible farmer / tenant looses both the hands or either the legs or both the eyes due to accident, is eligible for a grant of Rs.75, 000/-. Incase of losing one hand or one leg or one eye or hip disability due to accident the farmer / tenant is eligible for a grant of Rs.50,000/-. The farmers need not pay any premium for this fund. The Market Committee concerned and the Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board will bear the premium amount of Rs.10 per individual per year equally.

Agmark grading is undertaken to protect the consumers from the ill effects of consuming adulterated food commodities and to ensure quality food products. 30 Agmark grading laboratories and 1 Principal Agmark Grading Laboratory are engaged in grading the notified food products like vegetableoils, ghee, butter, honey, wheatflour, besanflour, ground spices, sago, rice, pulses, ragi, jaggery, turmeric, potato etc. During the previous financial year, sophisticated equipments has been purchased for Rs. 25.46 lakhs under Part- II Scheme for State Agmark grading Labs and Agricultural Marketing Centres in order to benefit the packers and consumers.

Out of 10% of Agricultural commodity wastage, 6% loss is due to not adhering proper post harvest practices. In order to minimise the post harvest losses in grains, the department has taken up construction of drying yards at village level. From the year 1997 under this scheme, 1228 drying yards have been constructed at a total cost of Rs.23.20 crores. During the year 2007- 08 construction of 100 Drying Yards at a cost of Rs. 2.50 crores is under progress. This scheme shall continue during 2008 – 09.

Uzhavar Sandhaigal

103 uzhavar Sandhais are functioning in the state in Municipality and Town Panchayat areas for direct selling of fruits and vegetables by farmers to consumers without any hindrance of middlemen. The main object of Uzhavar Sandhai are to ensure farmers to get a better price for their produce and to enable the consumers to get fresh fruits and vegetables at a lesser price than the retail market price. During the year 2007- 08, action is being taken to establish 50 more Uzhavar Sandhais at a cost of Rs. 11.25 crores. Hasthampatti Uzhavar Sandhai in Salem district has been inaugurated on 14.01.2008. As on date 104 Uzhavar Sandhais are functioning .Action is being taken to establish the remaining 49 Uzhavar Sandhais. Cold storage rooms of 2.0 M.T. capacities are to be installed in 22 top performing Uzhavar Sandhais at a cost of Rs.133.10 lakhs.
Various measures are taken by this Department to increase the arrivals in Uzhavar Sandhai, increase the number of farmers and for development of Uzhavar Sandhai. Everyday, on an average, 1053 MT of fruits and vegetable worth Rs.108 lakhs are sold benefiting 7800 farmers and 1,97,000 consumers per day.

Services to be rendered in the Uzhavar Sandhaigal
Additional facilities like electronic weighing scale, Plastic trays, trolleys, wastage bins will be provided for the farmers in the Uzhavar Sandhaigal. Computers for effective communication, new hybrid seeds, seedlings, organic farming methodology, vermicomposting demonstration and post harvest management training to farmers will also be offered to those farmers visiting Uzhavar Sandhai. 25 Uzhavar Sandhais have been supplied with computers.

ESTABLISHMENT OF MARKET COMPLEX

For the interest of the small and marginal farmers action is being taken to establish market complex with cold storage facility at Pongalur in Coimbatore District for Onion and at Krishnagiri in Krishnagiri District for Mango at a project cost of Rs. 2 crores each (Total Rs.4 crores). Entrepreneurs have submitted their Expression of Interest and Detailed Project Report. The Projects were evaluated by the evaluation committee and the evaluation report and joint venture agreement with M/S Premium Farm Fresh Produces Limited, New Delhi as a equity partner with Tamilnadu State Agricultural Marketing Board is under consideration.

Cold storage unit at Odaipatti in Theni District will be established at a cost of            Rs. 3.75 crores for grapes in order to facilitate grading, packing and export of grapes, so as to benefit the grape growers. The evaluation proposal submitted by M/s. Peninsula Agro Tech India Ltd. of Theni District as a equity partner with Tamilnadu Agricultural Marketing Board is under consideration.

As per the guidelines of the central Government, three Terminal Markets with all value addition facilities would be established near metro areas of Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore for processing, storage and marketing of perishables like fruits and vegetables at a total cost ofRs.200 crores. Consultants have been selected to implement the project. M/s Darasha and company private ltd Mumbai, selected as a consultancy agency for implementing the Terminal Market scheme in Tamil Nadu. An Agreement was executed with the consultancy firm on 10.12.07 by Tamilnadu State Agricultural Marketing Board, Chennai to prepare RFQ, RFP and DPR. Global Tender has been floated.

Agricultural Production and Marketing Information Centre

Market intelligence plays a vital role in marketing agricultural produce. If the information on commodity prices prevailing in various markets is made available, the farmers would be able to get better price to their produce by moving their produce to the market which pays higher. Taking this aspect into consideration, Agricultural Production and Marketing Information Centre has been established in 14 Regulated Markets like Dindugal, Alangudi, Madurai, Thirumangalam, Theni, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Aruppukottai, Virudhunagar, Rajapalayam, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Vadaseri and Monday Market at a cost of Rs.45.00 lakhs. These centres were provided with computer and accessories with internet facility and electronic display boards. Agricultural Produce arrival, price details and post harvest management practices in the regulated markets are flashed in the Electronic display boards, for the benefit of farmers.

AGRI EXPORT ZONES
To promote Agri Horticultural Produce Exports from Tamil Nadu, four Agri Export Zones for specific commodities have been established as detailed below.

In Tamil Nadu, Agri Export Zone for cut flowers has been approved and Memorandum of Understanding was signed with APEDA. In 198.73 acres of land, “TANFLORA”, a joint venture company of TIDCO and private promoter established infrastructural facilities like Central Packing House comprising of sorting, grading, packaging, cold storage and marketing facilities at Hosur at a cost of Rs. 24.85 crores. During the year 2007-08, 120 lakhs of cut flowers worth Rs.12 Crores have been exported to Europe, Middle and Far East Asian countries, Australia and Japan.

An Agri Export Zone for flowers at Ooty covering Nilgiris district is being established with the participation by private promoter at a project cost of Rs. 15.89 crores. Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with APEDA. Infrastructure facilitie s like auction centre, mother plant nursery, pre-cooling, cold storage, reefer vans, Hi-tech training centre, common marketing facility, etc., are to be provided in the zone. The department of Horticulture & Plantation Crops is conducting Hi-tech floriculture training and providing planting materials at 50% subsidized cost and subsidy for green houses, shade nets to flower growers. An information centre for providing technical consultancy and other horticultural information to the growers established at Ooty.
On 6.2.2007, Electronic Flower Auction centre at a cost of Rs. 11 lakhs has been
opened in Nilgiris and it is utilised by the farmers to sell their flowers.

An Agri Export Zone exclusively for mango has been established in Theni and five other districts namely Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Dindigul and Kaniyakumari with private sector participation at a project cost of Rs.24.60 crores. Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with APEDA. The private promoter M/s. Maagrita Exports Limited has established infrastructure facilities like state of the art Pack House, collection centre, processing units, grading halls, hot-water treatment plant, pulping centre, dehydration unit, canning unit, etc. in Nilakkottai Food Park.

Agri Export Zone for cashew at a project cost of Rs. 17 crores at Cuddalore district has been approved. Memorandum of Understanding has been singed with APEDA. M/s Sattva Agro Export Pvt.Ltd., has been selected as the anchor promoter for cashew Agri Export Zone through private promoter participation. The Detailed Project Report for the construction of common infrastructure facilities was prepared by M/S Sattva Exports and handed over to TIDCO. TIDCO has approved to release an amount of Rs. 47.25 lakhs as State equity to M/S Sattva Agro Export Pvt. Ltd. The Agri Export Zone work commenced in the year 2006-07 and the construction of infrastructure facilities and modernised nurseries is under progress. A survey has been conducted by the Firm for the procurement of cashew from 120 farmers through contract farming.

Establishment of Cold Chain

In Tamil Nadu 100 lakh M.T. of fruits & vegetables, 75 lakh M.T. of food grains, 3 lakh M.T. of spices and condiments, 5 lakh M.T. of plantation crops are produced. The production of these produces by adopting advanced technologies likely to increase by 30% in the next 5 years. Out of the total production 8-10% of food grains, 30-35% of fruits and vegetables are wasted due to nonavailability of proper storage/cold storage facility. Due to this farmers get 15-25% less price for their produce. To minimize post harvest losses of agricultural produce, especially fruits and vegetables, cereals, spices and plantation crops, it is proposed to set up Cold Chain through public-private participation utilising NABARD fund and NHB subsidy in 15 places. These cold chains will be established taking into consideration the proximity of the vegetable producing area, trading area, public places like community centres, agricultural extension centres etc.

Food Processing Industries

Processing of food eliminates wastage of agricultural produce to a greater extent. Food processing is gaining momentum as food-processing industries ensure steady and better price to the farming community as well as availability of the commodities in processed form to the consumer throughout the year. By cultivation of good quality processable agricultural produce the farmers stand to gain better returns and employment opportunity. The Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business department acts as a Nodal agency for Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India. Food Park at Dindigul District, Nilakkottai Industrial Estate is being set up at a total cost of Rs.13.00 crores. In Total, from Tamilnadu 441 proposals worth Rs.555.93 crores to establish food processing related projects have been forwarded to the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India with recommendations for grant of Rs. 97.51 Crores. So far an amount of Rs. 42.95 Crores grant has been released for 197 projects.

Tamil Nadu Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium (TNSFAC)

The main objective of TNSFAC is to link the small farmers to technologies as well as to market in association with private, corporate, co-operative sectors, by providing both forward and backward linkages. The venture capital assistance of Rs.563.77 lakhs for 20 projects with a project cost of Rs. 4909.51 lakhs has been sanctioned by Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium.

Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board
The important functions of the Board are as follows:

1.Publicity and Propaganda
Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board is carrying out publicity and propaganda
work highlighting the advantages of selling agricultural produce through Regulated Markets through publicity wing at Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli.

2.Training to Farmers and Staff
The training centre of Tamilnadu State Agricultural Marketing Board Chennai is functioning at Salem in an extent of 2.25 acres of land. This Training Centre caters to the training needs of the Market Committee employees and the farmers. Three different training programmes, viz; Graders Training, Market Committee Employees Refresher Training and Personal Contact Programme are conducted by this Training Centre. The graders training is conducted for the employees of the market committee for 30 days duration in 3 batches / year, comprising of 60 employees. The refresher training of 28 days duration is conducted for the Staff working in market committees @ 1 batch/year comprising of 20 persons. The Personal contact programme of 3 days duration is conducted for the farmers in 5 batches (20 farmers / batch) for 100 farmers. During this year 10,010 farmers are to be trained in the post harvest technologies, grading, food processing etc. at a cost of Rs. 52.50 lakhs. So far 3220 farmers have been trained and this will be continued. During the year 2008-09 10,000 farmers are to be trained in the post harvest technologies, grading, food processing etc. at a cost of Rs. 52.50 lakhs.

3.Establishing Marketing Endowment Chair at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Tamil Nadu State Marketing Board has created an Endowment Chair at the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, TNAU, Coimbatore, with a corpus fund of Rs.50.00 lakhs. 29 Various research studies and 19 training programmes have been conducted for the Department Officers and farmers, utilizing the interest accrued from corpus fund deposit.

4.Construction Works
The Engineering wing of the department execute civil works such as construction of
office buildings, rural godowns, auction platform, shopping complex, agricultural input shops, payment counters, rest sheds, water supply, toilet facilities, internal roads, godowns, compound wall, etc. in the Regulated Markets.

5.Market Development Fund
The Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board derives its fund resource from the Market Committees. The Market Committees contribute 15% of their receipts to the Board. Fifty percent of this amount is set apart as Market Development Fund, from which expenditure towards market developmental activities including training / publicity and propaganda are met.

6.Domestic and Export Market Intelligence and Guidance Cell at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Agricultural Produce Domestic and Export Intelligence Guidance Cell has been established in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University at a cost of Rs.44.00 lakhs from the Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board. The Cell would collect details on prices of major commodities at domestic and international markets, analyse and forecast future domestic and export prices. The Cell transmits the forecast prices prevailing in other states and in the forthcoming months to the regulated markets and farmers. The Cell by providing this information helps the farmers to plan the cropping pattern and the right time and right market to sell their produce. This cell has been networked with the Agricultural Production and Marketing Information Centres established in regulated markets.

7.Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Bodies Restoration Management (IAMWARM)
IAMWARM Project is a World Bank assisted project. This project is being implemented in the selected 63 sub basins over a period of 6 years (2007-13). In the first year (2007-08), this project have been implemented in the 9 sub basins at a cost of Rs. 8.83 Crores. The projected cost for 63 sub basins is Rs. 24.84 Crores. During the year 2008-09 the project will be implemented in another 16 basins at a cost of Rs. 209.5 lakhs. Under this project, the following components like Drying yard, Storage shed, Collection Centre, Pack House, Agri Business Centre, Goods Auto, Mini Lorry, Moisture Meter, Weighing Scale, Dunnages and Tarpaulin will be provided to benefit the water users Association. Among the 250 groups, 210 groups for agricultural commodity and the remaining 40 groups for horticulture commodity were formed. Under this scheme,16 interface workshops, 15 outside the state exposure visit, 15 inside the state exposure visit, 14 post harvest technology training were also completed. In addition to that, 7 memorandum of understanding between farmers and entrepreneurs were signed.

Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation), Rules, 2007

Contact Address
Directorate of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business Directorate,  
Thiru Vi Ka Industrial Estate, Chennai 600 032.
Email : agmarkbusiness@rediffmail.com.
Phone: 044- 22253884, 22253885.
Website : www.agriculture.tn.nic.in, www.tnagmark.tn.nic.in.