AP Govt paying Rs 876 per quintal for A grade paddy variety

Hyderabad, Dec 27 (UNI) The Civil Supplies Department in Andhra Pradesh is procuring A grade variety of paddy from farmers at the rate of Rs 876 and for common variety at Rs 837 per quintal.

The department was paying the higher amount for procuring the paddy following instruction from Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy (Grade A) as on date for the season 2007-08 was Rs 775 (Rs 675 plus incentive of Rs 100) and for common variety Rs 745 (Rs 645 plus bonus of Rs 100).

The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the procurement programme and said the farmer should get the maxiumum price.

The target fixed for raw rice for the khariff season 2007-08 from October first to March 31 2008 was 37 lakh tonnes and as on December 26, the achievement was 8.86 lakh tonnes. The target fixed for boiled rice was three lakh tonnes and the achievement was 35,579 tonnes, a release said here today.

UNI