Govt mulls ‘Sudha model’ vegetable sales centres

Patna: The state cooperative department is set to launch a pilot project for establishing vegetable sales centres on the “Sudha model” to strengthen vegetable marketing and ensure better returns for farmers.Chairing a departmental review meeting on Wednesday, cooperative minister Ram Kripal Yadav directed officials to prepare a pilot project through the Bihar State Vegetable Processing and Marketing Federation (VEGFED).Ram Kripal said the initiative was aimed at improving vegetable sales within the state, strengthening marketing infrastructure and ensuring better remuneration for vegetable growers.The minister also asked officials to prepare proposals for constructing departmental office complexes at the sub-divisional level to improve administrative efficiency and public convenience.During the meeting, discussions were also held on extending greater support to weavers’ cooperative societies and improving market access for honey-producing cooperative societies. Ram Kripal asked officials to focus on value addition and expansion of honey-based products.He also instructed officials to expedite the revival process of the defunct sugar mills at Sakri in Madhubani district and Raiyam in Darbhanga district.Emphasising procurement and digitisation, the minister asked officials to speed up wheat procurement and ensure targets were achieved within the stipulated period. He also stressed early computerisation of all remaining Primary Agricultural Credit Societies under the PACS computerisation scheme.Ram Kripal further asked officials to make the Bihar State Self-Reliant Cooperative Societies Tribunal functional at the earliest.Senior departmental officials, including secretary Dharmendra Singh and VEGFED managing director Dr Gagan, attended the meeting.