CM reviews procurment of foodgrains

Hyderabad, Nov 22 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said the prices paid in the state for maize was Rs 100 more than Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Maize procurement is now done by the private parties by paying up to Rs.100 more than the MSP to farmers in Andhra Pradesh.

Dr Reddy said as far as paddy was concerned, 20,000 tonnes of paddy was procured through Food Corporation of India, Civil Supplies Corporation, IKP and rice millers procured 5.5 lakh tonnes of paddy as against 2.5 lakh tonnes of paddy procured last year during the same period.

Paddy prices were ruling Rs 100 more than the MSP. The rice millers had delivered 1,60,000 tonnes of rice so far against 60,000 tonnes last year during the same period, an official release said.

The Chief Minister was told that rice was sufficient for distribution through the fair price shops in November and for the month of December, it would be distributed in the first week itself.

The Government had already prepared the proposal for relaxation of ''F.A.Q. specification'' of the damaged paddy due to the recent heavy rains and cyclones and the State government was fully prepared to purchase the entire damaged paddy from all the farmers.

The Chief Minister said, the farmers need not have any apprehension regarding this.

He said he has already taken up the issue with the Government of India and they assured to relax the FAQ in this regard.

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