Farmers told to sell paddy at MSP only

Kakinada: Joint Collector R Muthyala Raju has advised farmers not to sell paddy below the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the Government. Speaking to the media at the Collectorate on Friday, he said that as per the Central Government’s new policy on paddy procurement, only 25 per cent would be taken as levy from the millers instead of 75 per cent earlier. He requested the farmers to sell the paddy as per the fixed MSP. The MSP for common variety was Rs 1360 and Rs 1400 for Grade A variety and this MSP has to be paid for the purchases made either by the millers or by the government and the payment has to be made in the form of cheques only, he added.

The Joint Collector said paddy would be purchased at the field level from the farmers by paying MSP for which necessary arrangements were made. He said that that 175 paddy procurement centres were proposed in the district and 142 centres were already opened and 58 lakhs gunny bags, 8634 tarpaulins, 110 moisture measuring meters were kept ready at MLS points, he added.

The Joint Collector requested the teachers of various educational institutions to enroll themselves as voters for the East and West Godavari teachers constituencies. Those teachers who were in teaching profession for three years from November 1, 2008 were eligible for enrollment. The teachers of secondary grade and above, working in the government and private aided educational institutions were eligible for enrollment. He said that 7, 368 voters were on the rolls and 630 voters were enrolled newly. He requested the others, too, to enroll themselves, he added.