Ministers review steps for paddy procurement

Hyderabad: Telangana State government has directed officials to take immediate steps for lifting of paddy from paddy procurement centres and avoid any difficulties to farmers in case of rains. Further, it emphasised that payment be made to farmers within three days either by online or through cheques.

Civil Supplies Minister Etela Rajender and Marketing Minister T Harish Rao convened a meeting here on Tuesday to review the preparations for procurement and fixing of minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, maize and pulses.

The Commissioner of Civil Supplies C Parthasarathi has apprised the Ministers of procurement policy of Union government in imposing levy on rice not exceeding 25 per cent from Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2014-15. Accordingly, the State government has taken all necessary steps in co-ordination with IKPs/PACS and other agencies to open the paddy purchase centres for paddy procurement.

The Civil Supplies Corporation is positioning 3.72 crore required gunny bags at paddy purchase centres, in order to ensure to avoid any delay in purchasing paddy, he said.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary (Marketing), Commissioner & Director (Marketing), Commissioner of Civil Supplies, Managing Directors of Civil Supplies Corporation, Managing Director of Markfed and others.