Changes in the Department of Civil Supplies for farmers

 

 - We are discontinuing the practice of farmers selling grain to millers

 - Changes in the Department of Civil Supplies for farmers

 - The government will buy grain from next season

 - Minister of State for Civil Supplies Kodali Nani

 Gudivada, Aug 4 (prajaamaravati): State Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Kodali Srivenkateswara Rao (Nani) has said that the government is taking steps to end the practice of farmers going directly to rice millers to sell grain.  Minister Kodali Nani spoke at a meeting held at the Agriculture Department AD office in Gudivada town of Krishna District on Wednesday.  He said the government had brought in a provision to give money to farmers within 21 days of purchase of grain.  Scattered millers also said they were not cooperating with farmers.  They are cutting back on the amount of money owed to the farmer as the moisture content is high and the soil, except, like tar.  Millers in the Civil Supplies Department have always been involved in grain purchases together.  CM Jaganmohan Reddy said that the idea was to completely prevent the loss of farmers due to millers.  As part of this, many changes are being brought in the Department of Civil Supplies, he said.  Millers said next season will have nothing to do with grain buyers.  The harvested grain is procured by the Civil Supplies Department through the market yard.  The grain will be sent to the millers after purchase.  CM Jaganmohan Reddy said the state was working with the vision of completing all the irrigation projects even though the economic situation was not favorable.  Varuna Deva also said that CM Jaganmohan Reddy, who has a mind to work for the farmers, also cooperated with the government.  As on July 31, Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar, Pulichinthala and Prakasam barreges were flooded and water beyond storage was released into the sea.  He said the state government would work for the farmers in good faith.  He said that God was also cooperating with agriculture to prevent the occurrence of heavy rains and droughts.  During Chandrababu's tenure as chief minister, 55 lakh metric tonnes of grain was procured annually.  CM Jaganmohan Reddy said the government was buying 85 lakh metric tonnes of grain annually.  The previous government had left Rs 1,200 crore in arrears to farmers.  As soon as he came to power, CM Jaganmohan Reddy said the arrears were also paid to the farmers.  He said the farmers were required to pay within 21 days of the sale of the grain.  He said the state government has been releasing money to farmers from time to time even though the dues from the central government have not been received.  Minister Kodali Nani appealed to everyone to make the programs being carried out by CM Jaganmohan Reddy with the farmers in mind a success.  YCP state leader Dukkipati Sashibhushan, Agricultural Market Yard chairman Mondru Sunita, YCP leaders Paladugu Ramprasad, Peyyala Adam, Matta John Victor, Mallipudi Srinivasa Chakravarti, Mondru Venkateswara Rao, Agriculture Advisory Council Gudivada Rural Mandal President Mekala Satyanarayana and Nandivada Mandal President Kondapalli Kumar Reddy were present on the occasion. Several officials of the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, etc. participated.