Owing to supply of water from Thotapalli project even to tail-end areas in the district, an additional yield of one lakh metric tonnes of paddy is expected during kharif-2016, Minister for Rural Development Kimidi Mrunalini said.
Participating in a meeting with rice millers and district officials on Friday, the Minister said that exports to other districts would be allowed only after meeting the local demand. Keeping this in view, the Civil Supplies Department had opened 166 paddy purchasing centres last year and procured 3.75lakh metric tonnes as levy. This year, it was targeted to procure 50,000 MT more than last year, she said. Initially, 135 paddy procurement centres would be opened and increase the number up to 175 in stages.
Farmers raise 1001 common variety more than the A-grade variety in the district. The government had fixed support price for A-grade variety at Rs. 1,510 per quintal and common variety at Rs. 1,470.
District Collector Vivek Yadav said that over 1.10 crore jute bags were arranged for the levy rice. As the number of godowns to store the procured levy rice was inadequate, it was decided to reserve godowns in the neighbouring districts.
Mrunalini says irrigation water is supplied even to tail-end areas in the district from the Thotapalli project
