In response to escalating prices of agricultural goods, the Department of Agriculture Development & Farmers Welfare in Kerala has announced plans to organize 2,000 Onam fairs across the state. This initiative aims to alleviate the impact of rising costs on consumers and provide direct market access for farmers.
The fairs will be established in every village panchayat, municipality, and corporation, with 1,076 markets managed directly by the Agriculture Department, 160 by the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK), and 764 by Kerala Horticorp from September 11 to 14.
Additionally, an extensive Agricultural Information Network is being set up to regulate vegetable prices and enhance market transparency during the festive season. Coordinated by the Directorate of Agriculture Development, this system will integrate data from 216 markets statewide, including major wholesale markets and vegetable trade centers. The network will provide detailed price information for over 300 agricultural products and more than 2,000 product varieties.
Real-time updates will be accessible to farmers and stakeholders through a mobile platform developed by the National Informatics Center (NIC), and direct procurement from farmers will be facilitated to streamline the marketing process.
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