రైతు బజార్ 

వ్యవసాయాన్ని పండుగలా మార్చిన దార్శినికుడు చంద్రబాబు. జీరో బడ్జెట్ - పెట్టుబడిలేని గో ఆధారిత ప్రాకృతిక వ్యవసాయం ,జీవామృతం ,వేపనూనె వాడకం, నానో యూరియా , తుంపర సేద్యం, పంటబీమా, రైతు ఋణ మాఫీ, వ్యవసాయ పనిముట్ల మరియు ట్రాక్టర్ ,ఇతర వ్యవసాయ పరికరాల కొనుగోలుకి చేయూత &వడ్డీ లేని ఋణాలు ,సబ్సిడీలు , పంట వైవిధ్యం, గిట్టుబాటు ధర --- ఇలాంటి పదాలకు , పనులకు, పథకాలకు దేశంలోనే ఆద్యుడు చంద్రబాబు .

How Chandrababu Naidu’s agrarian vision helped lakhs of small and middle scale FARMERS and revolutionized the rural economy through “RYTHU BAZAAR” - A pioneering initiative -

In 1998,there is a crisis in food marketing system in urban areas of Andhra pradesh..Vegetables and fruits are important components of everyday diet in our society..Prices of vegetables and fruits sky-rocketed and reached so high that even rich and middle-classes found it difficult to purchase fruits and vegetables..But another main problem here is - The FARMERS are not getting a proper price for their produce even though people are paying very high prices..only MIDDLEMEN were the beneficiaries of the marketing system and farmers resorted to distress sales,selling their hard-work/produce for very low prices to traders and middle-men.

Farmers are getting 30% while middlemen are getting 70% of the sale..Then entered CHANDRABABU NAIDU,the trouble-shooter,one of the greatest leaders for CRISIS MANAGEMENT .

Now..the government and team spear-headed by Naidu himself,tried to identify the root causes and developed a detailed problem statement consisting of 2 important points or disadvantages of this marketing system 1) Farmers are not getting proper prices for their produce and only middlemen and traders are getting benefited..Farmers are getting only 30% of what the customers are paying and middlemen are pocketing a whopping 70% as middlemen and traders are manipulating the system to their benefit 2) Sky-rocketing or high prices of vegetables and fruits hurting the purchasing capacity of public as even the people with relatively high incomes felt the pinch of raised prices In 1999 - Chandrababu naidu came up with a pioneering initiative,taking inspiration from APNA MANDI programme,operated by Punjab and Haryana governments to tackle these problems,but with a more comprehensive scheme to overcome the shortcomings of Apna Mandi scheme,called RYTHU BAZAARS SCHEME - starting rythu bazaars in 50 towns and cities as first phase of the programme (

The Rythu Bazaar scheme was a ROARING SUCCESS in all the 50 towns and cities..Prices came down by 50-75% and distressed farmers were provided with an opportunity to market and sell their products directly to the customers through the outlets provided and managed by the government satisfying the needs of general public and farmers .

The purpose&objectives and benefits of RYTHU BAZAAR’s scheme - PURPOSE : To create organised markets in urban areas where farmers could directly market or sell their products to urban customers avoiding middleman The government will provide - 1) Physical infrastructure like land,etc., for the markets in central location of towns and cities 2) Financial assistance to operate the markets 3) Manpower,money and ancillary services from local administration authorities required for the effective execution and management of markets

OBJECTIVES : 1) To ensure proper prices to the farmers for their products and hard-work 2) Providing fresh fruits and vegetables to customers at lower prices 3) To avoid exploitation of both consumers and farmers by middlemen and traders by creating a direct interface between farmers and customers through Rythu Bazaars 4) To avoid wide fluctuations in prices of vegetables and fruits between markets and seasons across the seasons,to stabilise prices at a reasonable level 5) Using appropriate inputs like high-yielding varieties proving pre and post harvesting technologies in vegetable production to maximise the benefits 6) To curb malpractices in weighing and measuring procedures and ensuring prompt and swift sale proceeds to farmers without any deductions 7) Processed traditional foods manufactured by SELF HELP GROUPS will be allowed to be sold at Rythu Bazaars (5/13)

BENEFITS : 1) Availability of fresh farm products to customers at a fair price and farmers getting larger share from the sale and encouragement of direct marketing efforts by farmers 2) Cultivation of ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE among farmers and rural population in general 3) Providing market avenues for for the products of SELF HELP GROUPS in rural areas 4) Healthy practices in weighing,grading,packing and marketing of farm products 5) Free flow of information to and from the farm sectors in form of farmer training,farmer extension,market intelligent and market information

The shortcomings of APNA MANDI scheme (a great initiative in its own right) like - 1) Lack of opportunity to interact on a daily basis 2) Lack of structures or infrastructure to provide protection from inclement weather conditions 3) Lack of reliable and economic modes of transportation were taken care of,by a more comprehensive approach with RYTHU BAZAARS (7/13)

RULES AND REGULATIONS : 1) I.D cards attested by horticulture officer will be issued to all the farmers after a background check and strict vigilance on BOGUS FARMERS 2) Vigilance over allotment of stalls to farmers,placement of products 3) Price determination by estate officer in consultation with COMMITTEE OF FARMERS WILL DETERMINE THE PRICES 4) PROMINENT DISPLAY OF PRICES for the convenience of customers and to avoid cheating 5) Use of standard weights and grading 6) CHECKING ON QUALITY of the products with surprise checks by estate officers 7) Freedom to pick and choose for the customers 8) Restriction of entry of any private vehicles or traders or middlemen 9) Stalls provided to SELF HELP GROUPS,CO-OPERATIVES to sell products such as milk,processed foods,provisions,etc., 10) Strict prohibition of hawkers or vendors selling vegetables or fruits or processed foods near Rythu Bazaars 11) Limitation of bulk sales - farmers are encouraged to primarily cater to the customers instead of bulk sales to restaurants,hostels,traders,food manufacturing companies,etc., 12) Sale to trade - Farmers shouldn’t sell the products to traders and they shall sell their products only to customers 13) Grievance cell raise any complaints or address any issues 14) Good customer relationship, Good public image (

Other than acting as a direct interface between farmers and customers, Rythu Bazaars were used as PLATFORMS FOR PROVISION OF TRAINING AND AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION TO THE FARMERS..EXPERTS FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS were utilised to provide information and advice on BEST-PRACTICES in pre and post-harvest stages for high yield and ENCOURAGED ORGANIC FARMING, particularly EMPHASISING ON USE OF BIO-FERTILISERS & VERMI COMPOST.

SUPPLY INPUTS : Rythu Bazaars scheme made sure that FARMERS HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY SEEDS,FERTILISERS AND PESTICIDES to improve the quality of farm produce - The scheme used INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (You can expect this when Naidu is involved ) by installing facsimile machines and computers at offices, ensuring dial-up connectivity and developed a website - http/gist.ap.nic.in/market.html - to keep the farmers and officers informed about the prices and other useful information - Door delivery operations were carried out (in 1999) and Institutional sales to the hostels maintained by government of Andhra Pradesh were carried out - Increased productivity at farm level, Price equalization were taken care of - Mobile Rythu bazaars were started as experimental programme under the scheme in 2003 .

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANY GOVERNMENT IN THE COUNTRY HAD ENTERED THE FIELD OF RETAIL MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE SUBSTANTIALLY IN URBAN AREA* Later,Naidu wanted to convert these markets into structures MANAGED BY FARMERS THEMSELVES as co-operative societies under the category of MACS - Mutually Aided Co-operative Societies - CHANDRABABU NAIDU devised this scheme meticulously to ward off a severe crisis in field of retail marketing and agricultural produce

Lakhs of farmers and their families and lakhs of customers were benefited from this scheme Multiple attempts were made by the traders,middlemen and few politicians to sabotage the scheme - “BUT CHANDRABABU NAIDU STOOD FIRMLY AND GAVE THE DISTRESSED FARMERS A CHANCE TO ROAR BACK,WHEN CORNERED BY THE MIDDLEMEN AND TRADERS” and made good quality agricultural produce available to consumers and citizens at fair prices by effectively implementing this scheme..He is called THE KING OF CRISIS MANAGEMENT for a reason This is PART - 1 of my “రైతు కుల బాంధవుడు - చంద్రబాబు నాయుడు” series focusing on schemes,plans devised and implemented by Chandrababu Naidu to help the farmers,to cultivate entrepreneurial practices among farmers and rural population,to give them platform and retail marketing for their products on a global stage “వ్యవసాయం దండగ” అని బాబు గారు ఎన్నడూ అనలేదు . పంటవైద్యం తో వ్యవసాయాన్ని పండుగలా మార్చుకోవచ్చనే విజన్ ప్రకటించారు . అనని మాట మీద ప్రతిపక్షాలు తప్పుడు ప్రచారాలు చేసారు..

2024 లో తిరిగి అధికారం లోకి రాగానే ప్రతి రైతుకి,    చంద్రబాబు రైతు  భరోసా ఏటా 20 వేలు సహాయం.