TS Govt assures all help for rain-hit farmers

Hyderabad : Commissioner for Civil Supplies Akun Sabharwal said government in all means will help farmers in selling their paddy which became wet due to sudden heavy rain.
 
On Wednesday, THE Commissioner made a field visit to Gajwel, Siddipet Market Yards, IKP Purchase Center at Duddeda and PPCs at Nerella in Sircilla district and discussed with the farmers. He reviewed with officials on paddy purchase, shifting of paddy, gunny bags and other issues. He suggested officials to take necessary measures particularly in transporting purchased paddy to mills. As per the demand required lorries should be kept available, in case of shortage of vehicles help of RTA officials should be taken. If any problem persists immediately it should be reported to District Joint Collector and as well as to the Head Office.
 
As much as 1.16 lakh metric tons of paddy soaked in water at Market Yards and Purchase Centers is shifted to rice mills on war basis. Keeping in view of rain forecast paddy should not be stored at paddy center and arrangements be made to shift them to rice mills immediately. Millers should increase speed in loading and unloading the paddy.
 
As the weather department alerted of rains from 11th sufficient number of tarpaulins should be kept available at the centers. In any situation or consequences necessary precautions should be taken to farmers should not suffer loss or face any problems.
 
Farmers should keep special focus on moisture percentage while selling paddy. Officials should guide farmers in this process.
 
Paddy purchase is in full swing at purchase centers state wide. Every year Civil Supplies Department establishes paddy purchase centers to procure paddy at minimum support price from farmers.
 
The Civil Supplies Department set target to procure 38 lakh metric tons of paddy in this year Rabi season and decided to arrange 3008 PPCs for the convenience of the farmers.
 
Till now, 15.91 lakh metric tons of paddy, worth of Rs. 2,526 crores is purchased from 2.36 lakh farmers at 2962 PPCs. In this 15.01 LMT’s paddy is shifted to rice mills. Last year at this same time in Rabi season, 7.64 LMT’s paddy worth of Rs. 1,154 crores was purchased from 1.24 lakh farmers at 2620 PPCs.
 
Compared to last year this year in the same time paddy procurement from farmers has doubled and without any problem and loss to farmer, the paddy is purchased at not less than MSP i.e., Rs. 1550 for and Rs. 1590 for Grade ‘A’.
 
Within 48 hours after truck sheet is generated from purchase centers payment is made online to farmers' accounts directly. For procuring 38 LMT’s of paddy 9.78 crore gunny bags are required, for which 9.31 crore gunny bags are kept available till now.