Govt to procure paddy, maize and pulses in Khariff: Minister

Hyderabad, Oct 13 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy today said all arrangements had been made to procure paddy, maize and pulses during the Khariff season.

Talking to newspersons here after a vedio conference with Joint Collectors and the District Officials, Mr Reddy said the government would procure 20 lakh tonne of paddy.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) Marketing Federation, Civil Supplies Corporation along with the Indira Kranthi Pathakam (IPK) groups would open 1000 purchase centres in the state, he said.

The FCI would open 163 purchase centres, the Civil Supplies Corporation 238 centres and IPK groups 218 centres to procure paddy for the first time. The marketing federation will procure maize, pulses and coarse grains through 94 purchase centres, in addition to 352 centres by the IPK group at the village level.

He said the FCI directly would procure eight lakh tonne of paddy while the Civil Supplies Corporation along with IPK Groups would procure 12 lakh tonne.

The state government would procure 30 lakh tonne of paddy, 60 lakh tonne of rice and six lakh tonne of maize for the entire year, he said.

He said the Centre announced a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 540 per quintal for maize and Rs 620 per quintal for common variety of paddy and Rs 650 for A-grade paddy.

As per the MSP, the government would procure pulses--Redgram, Greengram and Blackgram at Rs 1,750.

He said the government would not allow the farmers to sell their product for a distress sale.

The marketing federation had already given necessary materials like weighing machines, tarpaulin, moisture testing machines along with funds for speedy procurement, he added.

UNI BR VR 1924