The three-week-long nationwide lockdown started onMarch 25 and was extended on April 14 till May 3.
"Helped by the state agriculture department and theAgricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), 69 farmergroups in Akola took orders directly from customers anddelivered vegetables, fruits worth Rs 8.50 crore sincelockdown began," informed District Agriculture SuperintendentMohan Wagh.
"They started sales at 93 places in urban areas andsold 850 tonnes of produce. Their mobile phones played a hugerole," Wagh told .
ATMA is part of the Centre's National AgriculturalTechnology Project and provides technical back-up and researchto help farmers develop effective supply chains. CORBNM BNM