Hyderabad: Agriculture and marketing minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao, while taking stock of the prevailing situation, called for immediate stabilisation of chilli rates across all markets, especially in Khammam. He directed officials from the agriculture and marketing departments to take steps so that farmers could be saved from losses.
After a review of the recent fall in prices with the Hyderabad and Warangal market committee secretaries, the minister ordered them to educate farmers on the steps being taken by the government. He further ordered consultations between middlemen and purchasers in order to ensure that farmers are not denied minimum support prices. Officials were instructed to facilitate storage of chillies up to a value of Rs two lakh in cold storages against interest-free loans for six months.
In a separate release it was informed that NAFED and MARKFED will purchase 50,000 tonnes of red gram as part of the nationwide target of purchasing 10 lakh tonnes of the produce.
Telangana has grown red gram in 4,74,299 acres, which is estimated to yield 2.37 lakh tonnes of the pulses. Currently, the rate of red gram is around Rs 9,500 to Rs 10,500, which is above the MSP of Rs 7,000. Purchase of the crop will begin on Thursday.
