5 lakh metric tonne yield in kharif season from Nizamabad district
Telangana government is also in favor of farmers sellingt their produce to AP men
Nizamabad: Farmers of Telangana districts are showing interest to sell their paddy to rice-millers belonging to Andhra Pradesh, instead of local millers as the former are offering remunerative price to their produce. In the last few days, lorries from Krishna, Guntur, East and West Godavari districts were found lined up in north Telangana districts, particularly in Nizamabad district, to purchase paddy from farmers. Of the estimated 5 lakh metric tonne yield in kharif season from Nizamabad district, the Andhra millers had already purchased around 1 lakh metric tonne from farmers.
The government declared an MSP of Rs1,360 and Rs1,400 per quintal paddy of common variety and Grade ‘A’ respectively. But the AP millers are offering more than MSP — something between Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,650 per quintal. Further, they are buying stocks right from the farmers’ doorsteps and making the payment instantly, without raising issues regarding the moisture content.
Surprisingly, the Telangana government is also in favor of farmers sellingt their produce to AP men. Minister for agriculture Pocharam Srinivas Reddy directed the civil supplies officials not to seize lorries transporting paddy from TS to Andhra Pradesh. Reportedly, the AP Rice millers have been offering remunerative prices to the paddy as they have an opportunity to export the rice to foreign countries through ports. They also get more profits than their Telangana counterparts in byproducts of paddy.
The millers from AP are buying the common grade paddy, specially, the 1010 variety. This grain in this variety of paddy is coarse and it neither eaten by people of TS or AP. Most of the common variety of rice is exported to foreign countries. In addition, boiled rice is exported to Kerala and Gulf countries from Nizamabad. The AP government has permitted rice millers to export 5 lakh metric tonnes rice to foreign countries and it is for this reason that millers are thronging TS to procure paddy, as it has been harvested early, compared to AP. Paddy arrivals begin in December in AP.
Rice millers association Nizamabad district secretary V. Mohan Reddy said the state government’s attitude in paddy procurement would lead to adverse results. Transportation of paddy from TS to AP would affect PDS.”
( Source : dc correspondent )
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