AP Govt Proposes Strict Policy for Paddy Procurement Through RBKs

Amaravati: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the authorities to bring a strict policy for paddy procurement and ensure it is   done right at the farm gates through Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs).

During a review meeting with a group of ministers here at the camp office on Monday, the Chief Minister emphasised to take up a transparent procedure for paddy procurement without any irregularities to provide remunerative price for the farmers.

 He said there should be no involvement of millers in paddy procurement and officials should keep tabs on payments, irregularities, e-kyc, and e-crop booking to make timely payments based on Aadhaar numbers. He told the officials to create awareness through agriculture advisory boards, VAAs and volunteers by distributing pamphlets to every farmer and displaying the details of the procurement in every RBK. 

The Chief Minister said that the paddy procurement should be done in front of the farmers through RBKs and strict measures should be taken ensuring transparency in checking the grain quality. The State government is moving with a new approach to benefit farmers in achieving good returns. All the farmers should receive minimum support price without any exceptions and in this regard, he said that appropriate steps should be taken for increasing the awareness of the farmers on paddy procurement.
Meanwhile, the officials informed that cultivation is being done in an estimated area of 15.66 hectares across the State and expected the yield of 87 lakh MT. Also, it is estimated that about 50 lakh MT of paddy will be procured and stated that paddy cultivation is being done under 6884 RBKs.

Ministers Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, Kurasala Kannababu, Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao (Nani), Cherukuvada Sri Ranganatha Raju, Chief Secretary Dr Sameer Sharma, Agriculture Special CS Poonam Malakondaiah, Chief Secretary of Agri Marketing Y Madhusudhan Reddy, Principal Secretary of Finance SS Rawat, Civil Supplies Commissioner Girijashankar, Special Commissioner for Marketing PS Pradyumna, APSCSCL VC and MD G Veerapandian, Special Commissioner for Agriculture H Arun Kumar and other senior officials were present.