Team Herald
Ponda: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will inaugurate the second phase of the ‘Agri Bazaar’ building of the Goa Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Board (GAPLMB) on October 25, on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra.
This will take place at the Ponda Market Sub Yard, Curti, at 11.30 am, informed GAPLMB Chairman Prakash Velip during a press briefing along with Board members Vikas Prabu and Durgaprasad Vaidya.
Velip added that the Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik, Deputy CM Chandrakant Kavlekar, Cooperation Minister Govind Gaude, Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar, Ponda MLA Ravi Naik and Curti Khandepar Sarpanch Shravani Gaude will attend it.
Velip further added that the Marketing Board has completed the Agri Bazar Project at Ponda Market Subyard under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana Scheme ( RKVY).
The cost of the first phase was Rs 13.11 crores and the cost of second phase was Rs 19.49 crores so the total cost of the project was Rs 32.60 crores. The fund for the same has been sanctioned by the Central and State government, with the former paying 60% and latter paying 40%.
They added that the Central government sanctioned around Rs 21.77 Crore for the total project work.
The project’s infrastructure is aimed at supporting local farmers, with the objective of helping grow the local produce of the traditional farmers and their livelihood.
“The farmers can sell their goods here on a regular basis or on a weekly basis. There are various facilities for farmers including cold storage facility. Project is spread in an area of 14,000 square metres of land. While the first phase of project is deriving revenue of Rs 1.52 lakh per month, the Board is expecting revenue of Rs 6.5 lakh per month from the second phase, which also has a provision of some commercial shops,” said Velip.
GAPLMB already has eight sub yards all over Goa and also has various proposals to renovate some existing yards in Goa under the RKVY Scheme as well as setting up more yards, including one in Dharbandora taluka.
