Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy asked district Collectors to see that the huge quantity of 10 lakh tonnes of old stocks of fertilizer available in the State is sold at old prices, even as farmers remain in an agitated state over “non-availability”.
Gearing up the officials for the kharif season, Mr. Reddy said prices of old stocks were lower by Rs. 100 to 150 per bag and selling of these stocks at last year’s prices would provide big relief to farmers.
At videoconference with them, in the company of Ministers, Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi and senior officials here on Monday, the Chief Minister contended that there was no shortage of fertilizer and seeds as being feared. As against 41 lakh tonnes of fertilizer required for this khariff, eight lakh tonnes had already reached farmers while 11.5 lakh tonnes more was readied.
Mr. Reddy wanted immediate disbursal of the remaining balance of Rs. 748 crore input subsidy to farmers. As there was lull in monsoon, seven-hour power supply should be made to agriculture pumpsets, particularly in Karimnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad, Nalgonda, Anantapur, Mahabubnagar and Chittoor districts where farmers depended on groundwater.
He said the recruitment of doctors would be undertaken now to fill 640 vacant posts, including 400 caused by those going for PG studies. He stated that 400 more vehicles would be added to the 715-strong fleet of the ‘108’ services.
