<span style="color: #222222;">Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has appreciated the spirit of farmers for braving all odds in the wake of COVID19 pandemic and sowing summer paddy crop in 37% more area than last year. Mr Naidu expressed happiness that overall sowing of various crops, including rice, pulses, coarse cereals and oilseeds is 31 per cent higher than usual. He hoped that apart from ensuring supply of fertilisers and pesticides to farmers, States will take adequate steps to ensure availability of farm machinery on time.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Vice President hoped that States will create better marketing conditions for farmers  as suggested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by relaxing provisions of APMC Act to allow direct marketing by farmers and prevent crowding of mandis. </span><br />