1.  COMPONENTS OF AN IDEAL MARKET YARD

In consultation with the representatives of Industries including mills and     G & P factory owners, Trade, Central Govt. and State Govt., TMC has developed components, eligibility criteria and norms of an Ideal Market Yard which are as follows:

 

(A) Essential Infrastructure:  

1.       Large Area: Market yard should have sufficiently  large area for movement of trucks/carts, heaping and trading of cotton.

 

2.       Pucca Roads: There should be Pucca roads for movement of loaded and  unloaded cotton carts/trolleys in the market yard.

 

3.       Pucca Platforms: There should be large number of pucca platforms for  heaping of kapas  so as to accommodate daily arrivals of cotton. till it is finally sold.

 

4.       Large Capacity Weigh Bridge: There is need to have a weigh-bridge with large capacity (preferably electronic) at the entrance of the market yard  where cotton in Trolleys/Trucks can be weighed to enable the farmer to know how much cotton he has brought for sale.

 

 

5.       Small Capacity Weigh Bridges: Market yard should have sufficient number of weigh-bridges for immediate weighment of carts/kapas after auction.

 

 

6.       Parking Place: Market yard may have parking place for trucks, bullock-carts, etc.   To prevent contamination, it should be away from kapas heaps.

 

7.       Fire Fighting Arrangements: Basic fire fighting arrangement in the market yard in case fire brigade is not available in the town/vicinity.

 

8.       Grading: Market should have facilities for grading of cotton.
 

9.       Farmers’ Information Centre:  Market yard may have Farmers’ Information Centre so that the farmers may update their knowledge about cotton – dos and donts?

 

(B) Essential Amenities:

  Amenities like Rest House/canteen/drinking water for farmers and also water and fodder for their cattle are components of an ideal market yard.

 

(C) Optional/ Desirable Infrastructure  

1.       Shed: Market yard should have shed to keep cotton for auction or if needed where farmer may also store his cotton in case he does not get appropriate rate for his produce on a particular day.    

2.     Warehouse Facility: Creation of warehouse for unsold cotton can be thought of.
 

3.     Testing of Raw Cotton: Market yard may have facilities for testing of raw cotton. (laboratory for testing for moisture, micronaire etc.) .  

 

(D) Other Components:  

1.       Daily Auction System: Daily Auction System should be introduced by the market committee, wherever it is not so.
 

2.       Maintenance of Records: It should be maintaining all records concerning transactions properly and submitting prescribed returns to the concerned authorities.
 

3.      Elected Market Committee: It should have a functioning, elected market committee.
 

4.       Timely Payment to the Farmers: APMC should ensure that farmers receive the payment of their produce within one week of sale.
 

5.       Insurance Scheme: Kapas brought by farmers for sale should be covered under Insurance Scheme till its ownership is transferred to the buyer.
 

6.       Sufficient Staff: APMC should provide sufficient staff for day-to-day activities in the market yard.
 

7.    Cleanliness/ Maintenance: APMC should own the responsibility of cleanliness/maintenance of the market yard.    

  2.ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

(i)       Market yards having sufficient present cotton arrivals and are expected to retain the present level or increase in cotton production in the catchment area of the APMC.
 

(ii)     Market yard not having sufficient infrastructure and other facilities to accommodate present and future cotton arrivals.
 

(iii)    APMCs should have sufficient funds to meet their own share (40%) or above.
 

(iv)    APMC should have adequate land to develop infrastructure and other facilities to develop an Ideal Market Yard.
 

(v)   APMCs should have the will power, desire and working atmosphere for development of their market yard so as to meet the requirements of an Ideal Market Yard.
 

(vi)    Respective State govts. should recommend the proposals of such APMCs for development under TMC project.