Food processing unit planned in Kadapa

Kadapa: A food processing unit will be set up in the private sector at a cost of Rs. 120 crore to facilitate value addition to fruits grown in Kadapa district, Minister for Marketing and Food Processing M. Mareppa said.

A G.O. would be issued shortly according protocol and due recognition to market committee chairmen, the Minister told a review meeting with presidents and secretaries of agricultural market committees in the State guest house here.

In order to develop market yards in the State, he assured to permit market committees to recruit 500 security guards on outsourcing basis, in reply to the request of Kadapa market committee chairman Chandrahasa Reddy.

Central marketing fund assistance to each market committee was doubled to Rs. 10 lakh on the initiative of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Mr. Mareppa said. The government released Rs. 550 crore to Markfed for properly supplying fertilizer to farmers and steps were being taken for fertilizer supply in rabi season. He assured action if any irregularities in the market committees were brought to his notice. In-charge Collector M. Girijasankar, Kadapa RDO Ranjit Basha and Rythu Bazar estate officer Nagendra Prasad participated.