Red gram purchase centres to be shut from today

Khammam: Following the orders from the Managing Director of State Markfed Jaganmohan, the Khammam Markfed District Manager Mahesh Kumar directed the officials to shut the red gram purchasing centres in Khammam district from Thursday.

It is to be noted that keeping in view of the low price for red gram in the private market, the Minister for Marketing T Harish Rao requested the Central government to purchase the red gram and bail out the farmers.

On the requests made by the Minister, the Centre came forward to purchase the red gram through Nafed and gave its nod to the State government to open purchasing centres.

With assurance given by the Centre, the State government opened purchasing centres across the State in the regions where the red gram was cultivated in large amounts for nearly one month and purchased the produce from the farmers.

The Marketing Department opened purchasing centres at Khammam, Nelakondapalli, Kothgudem agriculture markets in Khammam district and purchased the red gram for the minimum support price fixed by the Centre at Rs.5,450 per quintal from the farmers.

As per records about 4,270 quintals of red gram was purchased from about 468 members of farmers in Khammam agriculture market and about 5,600 quintals from about 625 members of farmers in Nelakondapalli agriculture market, and 3,750 quintals from about 429 members of farmers in Kothagedum agriculture market till date. But the government did not pay the money to the farmers due to lack of funds with the Markfed.

With decision of closure of purchasing centres, the farmers are concerned over the payment of money by the Markfet for their produce.