Ahmedabad: In tune with global trend for on-line trading, Internet kiosks are being installed at 16 Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMCs) yards in Gujarat on the occasion of Independence Day to help farmers and traders get market information in Gujarati language. The APMCs include Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Unjha, Gondal, Dhoraji, Baroda, Surat, Mehsana, Visnagar, Vijapur, Palanpur, Bavla, Kalol, Mahuva, Bhavnagar and Deesa.The cost of each kiosk, including Internet connectivity, computer and gadgets would come to about Rs 2 lakhs, to be borne by each APMC. The financial health of APMCs in Gujarat are by and large quite good, the average establishment expenditure being about 60 per cent of the income. The permanent fund (accumulated surplus) of all APMCs in the state put together now stands at over Rs 230.61 crores.
As per an ambitious plan prepared by Gujarat State Agricultural Marketing Board (GSAMB), such kiosks are proposed to be installed at 70 out of total 177 APMCs in the state by 2000-end.
The software, displaying price trends in foodgrains, oilseeds, vegetables and fruits, has been developed by Ahmedabad-based Xplora Infotech Ltd. It will show the daily, monthly and yearly price of 200-odd commodities, to be updated daily.
According to Ahmedabad APMC statistician Ilesh Pathak, Internet kiosks have been installed at both its yards at Jamalpur and Vasna, interlinked with modem.
He said the software has been so designed that it could store latest price and arrival trends for the last 15 days, besides monthly and annual averages. However, he admitted that it would take some time before the motivated farmers could be trained to browse through the data. Meanwhile, GSAMB has proposed a comprehensive plan to Government of Gujarat (GoG) for connect APMCs to villages to develop agricultural marketing activity in rural areas.
At present, APMCs in Gujarat are located at taluka (block) places only.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.