The Ministry of Agriculture has significantly boosted the livelihoods of Nadarivatu farmers by securing markets for their Red Pontiac potatoes and incepting a new Farmers Trust scheme.
Minister Dr. Mahendra Reddy has confirmed that nearly 7,000 kilograms of the new potato variety has been harvested and being purchased by the Agricultural Marketing Authority at a guaranteed price of $1.50 per kilogram.
Dr Reddy says the Farmers Trust deducts 15 percent from crop sales by farmers, to go towards their own preparations for new planting seasons.
He says that these are models of farmers for remote interiors and they are encouraging exporters to also open trust accounts for farmers that supply them, as long as they see that deducted percentages are going back to the farmers.
Dr Reddy says that the markets for the new potato variety include Australia, with strong interest also registered in Indonesia.
