Hyderabad: In these times of unprecedented crisis, under the guidance and directions of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana State, K Chandrashekar Rao, the departments of agriculture, marketing & horticulture, in a concerted effort have endeavoured to utilise the available infrastructure and ensure providing of vegetables and fruits to the citizens of Telangana state. A new strategy was required as the present lock down times necessitated that citizens cannot move out of their houses and restrictions on vehicular movement as well as uncertainty of labour availability as well as vegetable produce.
Team work.
In this background, the Agriculture department led by the senior officers and battalion of Estate Officers, Farmers, Agriculture officers, Vehicle drivers, Assistants, Hamalis in the markets have responded admirably to meet the needs of the people in respect of vegetables and fruits and contributing to the security of the Telangana State. Managing 18 clusters, 15 market yards, 43 Rythu Bazars across the state and transporting, distributing , on an average over 29000 quintals of vegetables is a daunting challenge. The 12 Rythu Bazars in GHMC area catering to over 20 lakh households, with most vegetables being handled at Bowenpally and Guddi Malkapur have ensured sufficient supplies, quality products and reasonable prices, thereby strengthening the resolve of the Government in ensuring containment measures to combat the Corona Virus.
Strategy.
As maintenance of social distancing was an area of concern in market places, a strategy to use Mobile Rythu Bazars combined with extending of existing Rythu Bazars and markets to open places adjacent (Including some roads) areas, thinning of crowds was achieved. This resulted in providing an enabling environment in social distancing norms on the ground. It also encouraged the people to stay at home rather than crowding the markets and reduced the pressure at the market places. The Tsunami model of outreach using the Mobile Rythu Bazars has shown encouraging results on the ground.
Reach of Mobile Rythu Bazars
The department ensured that the farmers could transport their produce to the markets and gave assurance of safe passage, with the help of the police department. On arrival of the vegetable stocks at the Rythu Bazars, the Mobile Rythu bazars were pressed into service to reach out to every nook and corner of the city. The Mobile Rythu Bazars are a classic illustration of the government endeavour to enable people stay at home, thereby contributing to restricting the number of Corona virus cases. About 200 Mobile Rythu Bazars deployed on various routes using GIS technology are reaching out to over 500 locations every day and 3500 locations every week. With Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), spread over 625 sqkms, the Mobile Rythu Bazars are able to reach out across the 150 wards. Ward Level corporators are also showing special interest in planning the locations in their respective wards, more so in view of the fact that the vegetables and fruits supplied are fresh and reasonably priced. The doorstep delivery of vegetables and fruits by the Mobile Rythu Bazars has come as a boon to the 20 lakh household of the twin cities, who otherwise would have crowded the Rythu Bazar markets. Mobile Rythu Bazars and restoration of the weekly Santas in some places have ensured thinning of crowds and maintaining Social distance norms as prescribed by the health authorities as the main weapon in containment of the dreaded virus.
Management by Convergence.
The Mobile Rythu Bazar drive has brought to fore the advantages of management by convergence. It was the coming together of the Department of Agriculture, Marketing, horticulture, Police, GHMC, Postal department and using the network of RWAs (Resident Welfare Associations) that ensured removal of bottlenecks and speedy delivery on ground. The Police department ensured safe passage for vehicles, Postal department volunteered to provide dedicated large vehicles with drivers, GHMC (Urban Community Development) wing provided Community organisers and volunteers from RWAs ensured coordination. In these critical times, the convergence mechanism supported an efficient decision support system. Beginning with the regular routes, the tempo is proposed to be increased to Mobile Rythu Bazars reaching out to over 1000 locations on various routes. The Postal department vehicles are also planned to be deployed on new routes to cover the gaps.
It was on the suggestion of the Hon’ble Chief Minister some time ago, that many farmers took to cultivating of vegetables from the traditional cultivation of cereals and millets. The result is that a cumulative quantity of 700680 quintals of vegetables were handled in the month of March 2020. All the varieties of vegetables ranging from tomatoes to leafy vegetables are reaching the markets in sufficient quantities. The quantity of carrots and green chillies have increased substantially, the quantity of potatoes has reduced potatos are imported from Uttar Pradesh.Efforts are on to ensure that sufficient quantities of vegetables reach the markets. The lock down also ensured that the vegetables could be sent to locations within the state only. There is a ready market and Government is ensuring farmers are getting the fair price for their produce.
As far as the pricing is concerned, the prices actually decreased by 6% as compared to previous years. The entire marketing department is engaged in planning, procuring and distributing the vegetables and fruits in a systematic manner and attending to challenges if any. Overall there seem to sufficient quantities of vegetables available and there are no complaints of unfair prices. In fact citizens across the city have been sending appreciative messages complimenting the department and its staff on the quality, reasonable pricing and for services rendered.
Chief Minister’s Directions- Fruits Procurement
A special effort is being made to procure fruits in large quantities owing to their inherent quality in increasing immunity levels. Seasonal fruits like Mosambi, oranges, Papaya are being procured and made available to the citizens through the mobile rythu bazars. The Hon’ble Chief Minister has repeatedly stressed on the need to include fruits in the diet to enhance immunity levels which is imperative in the present times.
At Hyderabad the Rythu Bazars have seen arrivals of over 7500 qtls on an average. However the department is keeping a close watch on the quantities and motivating farmers around Hyderabad to transport their produce to Rythu Bazars and enabling them to find ready markets. Resident Welfare Associations, (RWAs) and GHMC (Urban Community Development) wing were roped in to ensure that the Mobile Rythu Bazars were sent to the right locations and norms of social distancing and order was maintained on the ground. People have responded gratefully and acknowledged the contribution of Mobile Rythu Bazars during these trying times. Senior citizens from various colonies have appreciated the fresh quality of the vegetables as well as the reasonable pricing. Mobile Rythu Bazars continue to respond to requests from various parts of the city. Farmers are being provided special passes to access the gated communities and colonies to meet the vegetable demand of the twin cities, to provide fruits such as oranges, lemons and Papaya.
In tune with the Chief Ministers directions, the marketing department is also making efforts to procure fruits and educating residents on the nutritional value as well as contributing to the increased immunity levels with a fruit diet.
The Agriculture department while expressing deep gratitude , appeals to all the farmers, workers, staff and officers to rise up to the occasion and provide for the needs of the citizens. It also appeals to the citizens to use the provided vegetables of good quality at reasonable prices judiciously and not waste them. Stay home, stay safe and let us all together handle this challenge.