Direct paddy procurement by Govt. mooted

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 5. A suggestion that the Government should procure paddy directly from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP) in the ensuing kharif season and have it milled at rice mills by paying the milling charges is under the Government's consideration.

Another suggestion is to give loans from the MARKFED to farmers, who have superior varieties such as Sona Masuri, so that farmers can hold the stock for three months and sell when the market is favourable. Under the `Rythu bandhu' scheme, the MARKFED gives 75 per cent of the cost of produce as loans without interest to farmers for up to three months.

These suggestions came from a committee consisting of Mr. K. Ratna Kishore, Secretary, Food and Agriculture Department, and Mr. D. Sambasiva Rao, Managing Director of MARKFED, which toured Punjab recently and studied their pattern of procurement.

During last rabi in Andhra Pradesh, the Government was unable to persuade the rice millers to purchase paddy at the MSP. As a result, the farmers could not get remunerative prices while millers who purchased Sona Masuri at the rate of Rs. 340 to Rs. 360 per quintal were able to sell it at Rs. 560 to Rs. 600 now.

Under the present policy, the Government procures rice through the Food Corporation of India and the State Civil Supplies Corporation under price support operations.

At a review meeting today, the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, said 45 lakh tonnes of rice had to be procured in the kharif season.

The Minister for Civil Supplies, Mr. N. Janardhana Reddy, the Minister for Major Irrigation, Mr. Mandava Venkateswara Rao, the Commissioner for Civil Supplies, Mr. H. S. Brahma, the Secretary, Agriculture, Mr. K.Ratna Kishore, the MD, MARKFED, Mr. D. Sambasiva Rao, attended the review meeting.

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Section  : Southern States
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