Minister urges buyers to make more use of Farm Fresh outlets

“The intervention of the department brought down the price of shallots to Rs 30 from Rs 190,” said Minister Raju, while inspecting the functioning of a Farm Fresh outlet in Anna Nagar. He was explaining how such outlets ensured that the prices of such commodities were brought down by timely interventions. 

On the other hand, he added, the public thronged the outlets run by the Cooperative department only when the prices of vegetables soared. 

“The patronage would come down when the prices normalise,” the Minister said. 

“Buyers depend on their regular vendors when the vegetable prices come down,” he noted, adding: “The price rise intervention scheme is the reason why inflation has not affected Tamil Nadu when compared to other states.” 

Referring to a customer from Vadapalani travelling all the way to Anna Nagar to purchase vegetables, the Minister said that it was the quality of the produce that drew the customer this far. Asked about the closure of the Farm Fresh outlet in Choolaimedu, Raju said the shops would never be closed and would only be relocated to a neighbourhood where the requirement and patronage were high. 

“No shops were closed. If at all one has been closed, it might be because of the poor sales which resulted in wastage. The outlet would have only been relocated to a more viable spot,” the Minister reasoned. 

He also assured action if vegetables were sold at a rate higher than what is prescribed by the state. 

“All commodities are purchased in huge volumes and the price in cooperative stores and Farm Fresh outlets will be at least 10 per cent less when compared to the open market,” he said. 

The turnover from the 72 outlets and three mobile outlets has crossed Rs 100 crore, the minister said. He added that the value of sales at Amma Pharmacy, which sells medicines at a minimum discount of 15 per cent, was Rs 700 crore through its 289 pharmacies.