Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Thursday met Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Professor KV Thomas at Hotel Grand Kakatiya and raised important issue like Paddy Procurement in the State, making available the required go-down space etc with the Union Minister and sought his help to resolve the issue.
Mr Rosaiah reminded the Union Minister that he has also brought to the notice of the Prime Minister these issues two days ago when Dr Manmohan Singh visited the city.
The Chief Minister discussed with the Union Minister issues like paddy procurement, construction of go-downs, opening of as many paddy procurement centres as required by the Food Corporation of India and also ensuring Minimum Support Price to farmers for paddy, pulses, cotton and other farm products in the State.
Mr Thomas assured the Chief Minister that he will take up these issues with the Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar and initiate required steps.
The Chief Minister told the Union Minister that the Paddy production for this year is estimated to be around a record 220 lakh MTs and in terms of rice, it is expected to be around 148 lakh MTs. Although this is a very happy situation, significant accumulation of stocks over the last few years at the FCI and lack of evacuation due to ban on exports of Non Basmati Rice is likely to put stress on the procurement activities, Mr Rosaiah told Prof Thomas.
Mr Rosaiah said the State is making all efforts in ensuring MSP to the farmers. Over 4500 Paddy Purchase Centres are being opened and the State is also involving the women self help groups to take up procurement at the village level itself.
He sought the support of Government of India to ensure that there is no hardship to the farmers in the disposal of paddy this year. The Chief Minister told the Union Minister that The FCI is currently holding on to over 34 lakh MTs of Food-grains in Andhra Pradesh and has got only 5 lakh MTs of clear vacant go-down space now.
The capacity of FCI to take over 90 LMTs of Rice during the year will largely dependent on evacuation of stocks. He wanted Prof Thomas to ensure that the FCI go in for Paddy Procurement activities in a big way at MSP by duly involving the Women SHGs to instill confidence in the farming community in Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister once again reiterated the issues he raised with the Prime Minister like the FCI going in for 100 per cent advance levy in order to encourage Rice Millers to make MSP purchases from the farmers.
He said the FCI should also meet the raw rice requirement for Karnataka from AP instead of Punjab and modify the existing guarantee scheme to facilitate bigger addition to warehousing spaces as suggested by AP. Mr Rosaiah wanted immediate lifting of the ban on export of Non Basmati Rice for clearing off stocks.