Red gram farmers in financial crunch

Mahbubnagar: Red gram farmers in the erstwhile Mahbubnagar district are facing financial problems as the State government, which procured their produce, has failed to deposit the amount into their accounts even after two months.

During the second phase red gram procurement two months ago, Mark Fed officials had procured the grain for a minimum support price of Rs 5,600 from 7,899 farmers from 28 procurement centers across the erstwhile district. They assured the farmers of crediting the amount into their bank accounts within one week. But more than two months passed and the farmers didn't got the amount.

When contacted, a senior official of Mark Fed, Mahbubnagar, Hanmanth Reddy accepted that there was some delay in depositing the second phase procurement dues. However, he assured that they are taking all steps to ensure that the red gram farmers will get their pending dues in the next one week's period. Meanwhile, the farmers are eagerly waiting for the amount as Kharif season is about to begin.

Mark Fed officials had informed that already the State government had sanctioned Rs 40.5 crores to be deposited into the bank accounts of red gram farmers. Of which, Rs 12 crore were sanctioned for Wanaparthy and Jogulamaba Gadwal districts, while Rs 28.5 crore were sanctioned for Mahabubnagar and Narayanpet districts.