MillenniumPost
Bengal

2 krishak bazaars to be upgraded to model ones

Kolkata: Model krishak bazaars will be developed in South 24 Parganas district to provide better facilities to farmers who come there to sell their produce and to reduce the wastage of perishable goods.
At present, there are six krishak bazaars in the district and one more is coming up at Gosaba. Two of the six krishak bazaars at Bishnupur II and Baruipur will be upgraded to model krishak bazaars.
Y Ratnakara Rao, District Magistrate, South 24 Parganas, said: "We will begin with two and gradually all the krishak bazaars will be turned into model ones."
All the six krishak bazaars in the district are functional. Bishnupur II and Baruipur krishak bazaars have been chosen to be upgraded to model ones first as they are situated close to Kolkata and the quantum of trading is highest in these.
In the krishak bazaar at Bishnupur II, at least 50 metric tonne of agricultural produce get sold everyday. Farmers and traders from the adjoining areas visit the bazaars and sell their produce. Solid waste management system will also be in place at a cost of Rs 20 lakh.
But some more initiatives need to be taken for better functioning of the krishak bazaars. First of all, one multipurpose cold storage with five chambers will come up in each of the two krishak bazaars. Temperature, humidity and other parameters of each of the chamber can be maintained individually. It will help in preserving different types of vegetables.
It often happens that vegetables rot and farmers are not able to sell them. So the farmers dump them in the market which leads to wastage of vegetables.
Five-chamber multipurpose cold storages with capacities of 500 metric tonne where vegetables can be stored for upto 6 months will be made.
Each chamber can maintain different temperature and humidity and other parameters. Each of the cold storage with a permissible capacity of 500 metric tonne will come up at a cost of Rs 3.25 crore each. Farmers can preserve one kilogram of goods against a minimum charge of Re 1 for a month.
At the same time, there will also be a branch of a bank along with ATM facility in the krishak bazaar. Moreover, the krishak bazaars will be given a modern look as the endeavor is to create a good ambience.
There is also plan to set up digital dynamic display boards on which right prices of vegetables and other items will be displayed and the same will get connected to the district's website.
A plan is also been mulled to set up a mini rice mill in a model krishak bazaar. Moreover, a space in each of the krishak bazaar will be rented out to run food corners which will help in generation of employment.
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