CHENNAI: Farmers will be made shareholders in Regulated Markets, a platform for farmers and traders to eliminate middlemen, Tamil Nadu Assembly was informed on Tuesday.Speaking on the discussion on the demand for grant to Agriculture department, Agriculture Minister K A Sengotaiyyan said the regulated markets would be revamped in accordance with the instructions of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and farmers would be made shareholders (25 per cent). Regulated markets were established for better regulation of buying and selling of agricultural produce. Functioning under the market committees, they do not charge any fee from farmers. During 2010-11, about 16.89 lakh tonnes of agricultural produce were sold by farmers through such markets.In the policy note, the Minister said computers had been provided to 25 farmers’ markets (Uzhavar Sandais). Cold storages with a capacity of 2 tonnes each had also been set up at a cost of Rs 133,10 lakh in 22 markets.As part of efforts to increase productivity and motivate farmers, composting of farm wastes, application of bio-fertilizers and use of green manures will be popularised during 2011-12. To produce compost from farm waste using pleurotus, kits containing one kg of pleurotus and five kg of urea are being distributed to farmers free of cost, the minister noted.‘EMULATE ISRAEL’Israel has been using innovative farm techniques like the ‘soil conditioning’ to improve the soil and ensure good produce. Similar steps should be considered in Tamil Nadu, AISMK member R Sarathkumar said. A total of 14 members spoke on the agriculture demand.
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