Transport Minister inspects cotton, paddy procurement centres in Khammam

Khammam: The State government has taken all the necessary steps for providing Minimum Support Price (MSP) to all agricultural produce, informed Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar. The Minister along with District Collector RV Karnan made a surprise visit to cotton procurement centre at Khammam agriculture market, a private ginning mill at Tallampadu in Khammam rural mandal and PACS and IKP paddy procurement centres in Mudigonda mandal in the district on Wednesday.

The Minister interacted with the farmers and the officials. Speaking on the occasion, he stated that the aim of the surprise visit was to check whether farmers were getting fair price for their produce or not and also to know the problems of farmers at the procurement centres.

The Minister informed that Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has offered an MSP of Rs 5,550 per quintal. He directed the market committee chairman Madireddy Venkataramana to confirm that procurement takes place through electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM) and through conventional auction. He told the CCI officials to credit money directly into farmers' accounts soon after the purchase.

Khammam Collector RV Karnan informed that steps have been taken towards the payment of money within three days of purchase at the markets. He added that Rythu Mitra centres were being setup at markets and ginning mills, and 122 paddy procurement centres were functioning in the district. Market committee vice-chairman P Koteswar Rao, Mayor G Papalal and others accompanied the Minister.

Later in the day, the Minister launched 'Khammam Citizen Buddy' mobile app on the TTDC premises in the city. He asked the public to make use of the app to get their grievances addressed.