Vemulawada Market Yard remains non-functional

The Vemulawada market yard, once a bustling hub for farmers bringing their produce for procurement, has been rendered inactive for the past four years. This decline is largely attributed to the negligence of the governing body of the market committee, resulting in the cessation of procurement activities, particularly for paddy.
The last time the market procured paddy was two years ago. In previous agricultural seasons, the market was a hive of activity, with authorities procuring various produce including paddy, cotton, red gram, and maize. Farmers from nearby mandals, such as Boyinapalli, Konaraopeta, and Rudrangi, used to bring their produce to the yard for sale. However, there are no signs of recovery or resumption of such activities in the market.
Despite this, the market committee invested Rs 10 crore in infrastructure development, constructing warehouses for grain storage, restrooms for farmers, and a farmer information relay centre. Toilets and drinking water facilities were also provided. Unfortunately, this infrastructure has remained unused, as there is no active market operation taking place.
The situation worsened when, four years ago, the market governing body allocated two acres of the market’s 4.5-acre site to the Vemulawada municipality. The municipality intended to build an integrated vegetable and non-vegetable market there. At the same time, the market committee decided to relocate the market yard to a larger 13-acre site near Marripalli in Vemulawada rural mandal. While proposals were submitted, no progress has been made on the relocation.
Officials have blamed farmers for not bringing their produce to the market yard. However, 20 licenced traders within the market’s jurisdiction have been privately procuring produce, bypassing the market yard. Allegations abound that these middlemen and traders are exploiting farmers by offering lower prices than the minimum support price (MSP) and cheating them out of 5-10 kg per quintal.
The Market Committee stated that the market yard would resume procurement of paddy if farmers choose to bring their produce to the yard. He also confirmed that the two acres allocated for the municipal market remain unavailable for agricultural purposes.