Ponguleti Slams BRS for False Propaganda on Paddy Procurement
He said crop loans worth Rs 21,000 crore had been waived, benefiting about 25 lakh farmers.
Nalgonda: Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Saturday said the state government would procure all paddy and maize from farmers while ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Addressing a ‘Praja Darbar’ at Tirumalayapalem in Khammam district, he said the government’s initiatives were aimed at supporting farmers. He said crop loans worth Rs 21,000 crore had been waived, benefiting about 25 lakh farmers.
He alleged that the previous BRS government had discouraged paddy cultivation and failed to procure produce at MSP. He said the present government was encouraging paddy cultivation and offering a Rs 500 bonus per quintal for fine variety rice.
The minister said the government would procure the entire paddy and maize output from farmers and asked them not to believe “false propaganda” by the Opposition.
He accused Opposition leaders of creating anxiety among farmers through visits to procurement centres. He also alleged that farmers were “handcuffed” in Khammam under the previous government when they raised demands.
Referring to land issues, he said problems arising from the Dharani portal introduced by the previous government had been addressed through the ‘Bhu Bharathi’ system. He assured that applications related to Sada Bainama would be resolved.
He said 14,700 applications had been received in Praja Darbar programmes in the Palair Assembly constituency, with a majority related to housing. He said 4.5 lakh Indiramma houses had been sanctioned in the first phase and the second phase would be taken up.
