Mangaluru : The foundation for a new vegetable and fruits market in the Main Marketing Yard of APMC at Baikampady was laid by State Minister for Agricultural Marketing and Cooperation S T Somashekhar on July 14, Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the DCC Banks have been instructed to provide loans to farmers at zero percent interest rate. He said the government needs Rs 81 crores to waive off the loans of 10,141 farmers through Apex Bank and DCC Banks. The government has been intimated about this, he added.

Speaking at the function, Mangaluru APMC President K Krishnaraj Hegde said the government must initiate measures to strengthen APMCs.

District in-charge Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, Mayor Premananda Shetty, MLAs Vedavyas Kamath, Dr Bharath Shetty, Umanath Kotian and others were present.