The East Godavari district administration has made arrangements to procure 9.45 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from the farmers through the 294 paddy procurement centres arranged at different parts of the district during the current kharif harvesting season.
Announcing this at a review meeting with the officials and the rice millers here on Friday, Joint Collector A. Mallikarjuna said that the procurement centres commenced functioning in 16 mandals where the paddy harvesting was in progress. The remaining centres would be opened in a phased manner in line with the harvest.
Referring to the procurement, he said that the centres were equipped with tabs and android devices, with which the data pertaining to the grain would be computersied.
The amount against the paddy would be remitted into the bank accounts of the farmers.
Handling charges
East Godavari District Rice Millers Association president Ambati Ramakrishna Reddy sought an increase in the handling charges, for which the Joint Collector said that the issue would be brought to the notice of the Commissioner of the Civil Supplies Department.
