Centre taking measures to build buffer stocks: Minister

Kakinada, Jun 23 (UNI) The Centre was taking measures to build buffer stocks of foodgrains, Union Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju assured today.

Participating in a public meeting at the end of the East Godavari district-level farmers rally here, he said efforts were being made to build up 60 lakh tonnes of buffer stocks in the central pool.

He said the Centre would consider lifting the ban on rice exports only after the target for buffer stocks was achieved.

Claiming that the UPA government at the Centre and the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh were adopting pro-farmers policies, he listed out various welfare measures initiated in the last four years.

''Even the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy was raised three times and finally fixid at Rs.850 per quintal recently, he said, adding that in every budget, some relief had been provided for farmers. During this year, debt relief to the extent of Rs 60,000 crore was announced. This was the ''most revolutionary step initiated'', he said.

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