Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) Metropolitan Commissioner N. Tej Bharat on Sunday said that efforts would be made to establish an organic plaza in Visakhapatnam city to promote natural farming and provide a dedicated marketplace for organically grown produce.Addressing an Organic Farmers’ Fair organised at A-Hub on the Andhra University campus in Maddilapalem, he said the proposed organic plaza would benefit natural farmers, consumers and tourists alike.Earlier, Mr. Tej Bharat visited the stalls put up by farmers and interacted with them on crop yields, marketing and the challenges they face. He also distributed seedlings of Baththili, Vanjangi brinjal, desi marigold, tomato and Guntur green chilli under the “Our Vegetable Garden” programme of the Green Climate Team NGO.Emphasising the need to encourage sustainable agriculture in view of changing weather conditions, he said farmers adopting nature-based cultivation practices should be supported through appropriate incentives. He also urged self-help groups to produce value-added products using naturally grown crops and called upon farmers to avail themselves of government schemes.District president of the cow-based Natural Farmers Association Datla Subrahmanya Verma, natural farmers Rishi, Trinath, Jagadish and Raju, Green Climate Team NGO founder-secretary J.V. Ratnam, coordinators Bhaskar and J. Rajeshwari, and others participated in the programme. Published - July 26, 2026 06:59 pm IST