Arunachal Pradesh faces shortage of vegetables amid lockdown

Itanagar, Apr 18 () The state agriculturedepartment has advised the deputy commissioners of alldistricts in Arunachal Pradesh to review the functioning ofthe Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) to dealwith a shortage of vegetables in the markets amid thenationwide lockdown.

In a letter to the deputy commissioners, Agricultureand Horticulture Secretary Bidol Tayeng said shipments ofvegetables from Assam have either been stopped or are notcoming in due to lack of transportation, leading to a generalshortage in the state.

He said that while the situation in most districts is"manageable" as vegetables from rural areas are finding theirmarkets in the district towns, the situation in the statecapital is "acute".

Tayeng asked the DCs, who are also the chairpersons ofthe APMCs in their districts, to review the situation.

The APMCs have already been directed to identify thesurplus pockets in the district and distribute the surpluswithin the deficit pockets in the district. If there are moresurplus, the concerned district APMC can also dispatch thesame to the state capital through APMC by following certainprotocols, the letter said.

Additionally, there is about 100 metric tonne ofpotatoes in cold storage in Banderdewa and Papum Pare, theletter stated.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Arunachal PradeshAgriculture Marketing Board (APAMB) Okit Palling has beennominated as the state nodal officer to coordinate with allthe APMCs. UPLSOM SOM