AP govt hikes MSP for pulses

Hyderabad, July 3 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh government has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for pulses by raising to Rs 350 per quintal to encourage pulse growers in the state.

According to an official release here, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy directed the officials to pay Rs 1,750 per quintal as against of Rs 1,400 for Red Gram and Rs 1,500 for both Black Gram and Green Gram during this year. The additional incentive of Rs 350 per quintal was purly a bonus for around 14 lakh pulse growers in the state.

After reviewing the prices of essential commodities with the officials concerned here, Dr Reddy said the hike in MSP for pulses would encourage the farmers to increase the production of pulses mainly red gram, black gram and green gram The Chief Minister also said the state government would urge the Centre to come out with a 'Control Order'' under the Essential Commodities Act 1955 to declare the holding of foodgrain stocks, including pulses by the wholesale dealers.

The state government would request the Union Government to provide a subsidy of Rs 10 per kg on the imported stock of black gram and green gram by NAFED in order to make it available to the consumers through the fair price shops at a reasonable rate.

Dr Reddy, who will take part in the Chief Minister's meeting at New Delhi on July 5, would also urge the Centre to blend petrol with Ethanol up to 20 per cent mandatory by fixing the price with the oil companies to help the farmers.

UNI AP ROY DKS ND1708