Harish Rao asks Centre to procure additional 1 lakh MTs of Redgram

Hyderabad: Irrigation and Marketing Minister T. Harish has urged the Central Government to procure additional 1 lakh Metric Tonnes of Redgram under PSF Scheme.

In a letter to Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan, Harish Rao said that permission was accorded for procurement of 75,300 MTs of Red Gram in Telangana State under PSS Scheme through Central Nodal Agencies for the year 2017-18. As the favorable seasonal conditions at the time of flowering and seed setting, the yield of Redgram is expected in Telangana State at about 10.00 Qtls/Ha and as per 2nd advance estimates, the production of Redgram is estimated to be above 2.84 MTs.

"With the support extended by the GOI, the farmers have taken up cultivation of Redgram and the quantity of 75300 MTS approved by the Government of India for procurement under PSS during Kharif Marketing Season 2017-18 is hardly 25% of the total production, thus the farmers will be forced to sell the balance 75% of the produce to private traders under distress at an unfavourable price which is reigning at present between Rs.3800-4200/- as against a MSP of Rs. 5450/-. This will lead to a lot of resentment among the pulse producing farmers and they will be discouraged from taking up pulse crops in the coming years which in turn will lead to inflation of Dal prices resulting in increase in imports to control prices and adversely impacting on consumers," Harish Rao said in his letter.

The minister said that the State Government has submitted necessary proposals to the Secretary, Consumer Affairs. Government of India, by requesting to issue instructions for procurement of Redgram at least 1.00 lakh MTS under PSF scheme in the state of Telangana.