AP CM seeks Centre's help for rain-affected farmers

Hyderabad, Mar 25 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today urged Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, to instruct the Central agencies to relax rules in the purchase of discoloured paddy.

In a telephonic conversation with Mr Pawar, he said the farmers should not be put to any hardships and the agencies should procure the paddy from the market yards, even if they were discoloured due to the recent rains.

Mr Pawar assured Dr Reddy that positive steps would be taken in this regard to help the farmers.

Dr Reddy said the state government would wait for a report from the district collectors about the final estimates of the loss due to the damage caused to various crops like chilli, maize, mango and paddy.

The state government had already instructed the revenue and relief departments to extend help from the Calamity Relief Fund to the farmers on the basis of the collectors' reports.

UNI VA SJ BJR ND1658