Hyderabad: Union Public Distribution System department secretary Ravikant on Friday complimented the state for its paddy procurement system.
He said it was appreciable that the government had arranged procurement centres every five km to help farmers get the minimum support price.
Mr Ravikant was visiting the state to inspect paddy procurement system and implementation of the PDS and met Food Corporation of India and the state’s civil supplies department officials.
He spoke with farmers who were selling their produce at the procurement centres at Khammam, Kothagudem, Siddipet, Mancheriyal and Bhupalpally districts through a video call from Hyderabad.
He spoke with beneficiaries of the PDS who were drawing their quota from rations shops.
Mr Ravikant asked why the state had purchased 208 per cent more paddy so far this year.
Mr Akun Sabharwal, commissioner of civil supplies, said timely rain, uninterrupted power, the Rythu Bandhu scheme and new projects had helped increased yields. Because of this, the state procured 39 lakh tonnes so far against 16 lakh tonnes last year.
