The state agricultural marketing department has identified land for establishing terminal markets. Over 140 acre has been identified, including 40 acre for truck parking in Pedda Amberpet on the outskirts of Hyderabad, which falls in the notified area of Gaddiannaram fruit market.
Besides, 500 acre has been identified at Changiskhanpet and 130 acre at Koyyavaripalem (Of this, 70 acre is government land), which is in the notified area of Guntur Agricultural Marketing Committee. "The district collectors concerned have identified the land but details are being worked out to place requisitions for acquisition," officials said in a release.
Apprising chief minister K Rosaiah of the department activities at a review meeting held on Saturday, officials said the AP State Warehousing Corporation (APSWC) had decided to construct godowns in agricultural marketing sites for 140,000 tonne capacity and for 165,000 capacity in the corporation-owned sites.
Less production of tomatoes due to bad weather and huge participation of purchasers from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Guntur are the reasons for increase in the price of tomatoes, the officials informed Rosaiah, adding prices may come down slightly from the second week of June because of the arrivals from local areas and Karnataka.
The officials said the department was directed to strengthen the check-posts by deputing sufficient staff to encourage direct sales of subabul and avoid middlemen.
“Purchasers, who transport subabul without market committee licences, are being stopped transporting subabul outside the state. New observation points were opened near the paper mills to record all the arrivals coming into the paper mills. Paper mills within the state are going to expand their operations due to which an additional 1.5 million tonne of wood a year is required,” they said.