Visakhapatnam: With a view to making organic vegetables and fruits easily available to the people, especially premium consumers, the Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Marketing (APAM) department would set up dedicated organic malls for all types of produce across the state.
The first such organic mall is coming up at MVP Rythu Bazaar, for which civil works have started. It will be operational by next month. Simultaneously, such malls would come up in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam. After that, a mall will be ready in Vijayawada.
Sharing the details of the organic mall with Deccan Chronicle, Rythu Bazar chief executive officer Srinivasa Rao said organic products were sold in Rythu Bazars. Now, the plan is to have exclusive malls for sale of organic products at 25 locations across the state in phased manger.
“There are 101 active Rythu Bazars, out of which around 25 are viable for conversion as organic malls. We are also in touch with organic farmers. Those interested in selling their organic produce can approach us for a deal,” he said.
An organic mall will come up in Vijayawada later. Discussions are being held with farmers. Cities and towns are prioritized for setting up such malls, keeping in mind the number of premium customers and organic farmers.
As demand for organic products is steadily increasing across the state as well as across the country, the government, especially chief minister Jagan Reddy, is keen on setting up such exclusive malls to encourage farmers and support health-conscious consumers in a major way. It helps in creating employment opportunities for youths and also offer them scope for entrepreneurship by way of taking up organic farming activities, like mushroom cultivation.
MVP Rythu Bazar Estate Officer G Prasad told DC that seven organic farmers have expressed an interest in launching their products at MVP Rythu Bazar in the state's first organic mall in Vizag. “It will be a fully air-conditioned setup. Despite the slight price difference, premium customers can enjoy it,” Prasad said.
