CM promises ryots adequate fertilizers for Rabi

Hyderabad, Sep 18 (UNI) Assuring agriculturists of adequate fertilizers and other inputs for the coming Rabi season, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today directed District Collectors to prevent smuggling of fertilizers to other States.

In a video conference with the District Collectors, the Chief Minister said though there was some shortage of fertilizers in parts of the State during the initial phase of the Khariff season, the problem has been sorted out in most of the districts.

Still, some shortage existed in Guntur, Kadapa and Kurnool Districts, he added.

''There will be no problem during the Rabi season as the Markfed has been provided with Rs 850 crore for maintaining a stock of 22 lakh tonne as against the requirement of 15 lakh tonne,'' he said.

Dr Reddy asked the Collectors to maintain a strict vigil to ensure fertilizers were not smuggled to other States.

Attributing the fertilizers shortage to ''panic'' buying by farmers and delay of over 45 days in release of subsidy by the Centre, he appealed the agriculturists to make use of the 25,000 Soil Testing Kits, available with the ''Rytu Mitras'', to study the soil condition and apply right type of fertilizers for better production.

Observing that the state had good rains for five consecutive years, he said the Andhra Pradesh targetted to enhance foodgrain production by ten to 15 million tonnes from the present 198 million tonnes.

Stating crops on 4.13 lakh acre were submerged following the recent heavy rains in the State, the Chief Minister said input subsidy of Rs 83.60 crore would be provided to those who lost their crops.

He asked the Collectors to ensure selection of beneficiaries under the third phase of INDIRAMMA between October 15 to October 30 and distribution of pension from November one.

The State Government would bear interest and part of the principal amount of the beneficiaries and also ensure that the Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) do not go beyond Rs 500 in urban areas and Rs 300 in rural areas.

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