CM Jagan reviews procurement of rabi crop, preparations for kharif

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting on procurement of Rabi produce of 2020-21 and preparations for Kharif 2021–22 here on Thursday.

He made it clear that seeds that are distributed for Kharif should be of good quality. He said agriculture assistants must create awareness among farmers on varieties of brinjal that are of interest in the market and which can get a good price. He wanted all relevant details to be available online.

Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the Spandana programme will be conducted in RBKs from 3 to 5 pm every day and the agriculture department staff should be available during the programme. Asserting that there should be no compromise on quality of products in RBKs, he said fisheries feed, livestock medicine, seed, fertilizers should all be made available in RBKs, which should be provided with high-band internet facility.

Officials said that procurement of Rabi crop produce under 6081 RBKs had begun. The Chief Minister sought a crop plan for every village taking RBK as a unit and their posters should be displayed at RBKs.

The officials said Rs 28,430 crore has been spent on crop procurement since YSRC assumed office. Of them, Rs 22,918 crore was spent on procuring paddy and Rs 5,512 crore on other crops while in the four years between 2015-16 and 2018-19, the previous government had spent only Rs 43,047 crore on crop procurement.

Agriculture minister Kurasala Kannababu, agriculture mission vice-chairman MVS Nagi Reddy, agriculture special chief secretary Poonam Malakondaiah, civil supplies commissioner Kona Shashidhar, special secretary for marketing and cooperation Y Madhusudan Reddy, agriculture marketing commissioner MD Suryakumari and other officials were present.