Hyderabad|India|April'2009: The Chief Secretary to the government
of AP held a review with the officials of the Civil Supplies Department to
review the prices of the essential commodities and the MSP operations
being taken up within the state for the major crops during the ensuing
Rabi season.
During the review, it was informed that the prices of the essential
commodities are in control and are being monitored regularly. The market
intervention operations with regard to the supply of the red gram dal and
palmolein oil were also reviewed.
It was informed the rice production during this season is expected to be
in the range of 60 lakh tonnes. The increase in production is mainly on
account of the increased acreage and better productivity. In order to
ensure that this record production does not lead to distress sale and fall
in MSP, elaborate arrangements have been made by the CS department. 444
Paddy procurement centres have been opened in over 10 districts. The civil
supplies corporation has so far bought 50000 tonnes of paddy through the
IKP groups and through its own centres. It was also informed that while
the village level procurement through IKP groups is being done by the CS
Corporation, FCI would open centres in regulated market places and would
undertake MSP operations as much as done by the state government agencies.
Availability of godown spaces was also reviewed. The officials from FCI
informed that there would be no shortage of the godown spaces in the month
of May and they would be ready to take at least 10 lakh MTs of Rice during
the month of May. CS asked both the FCI and the CS department to ensure
uninterrupted operations. The Agriculture and Marketing department was
also asked to spare the services of the technical personnel for assisting
FCI and CS Corporation in this activity. Finance Department was also
directed to release the first quarter budget to the Civil Supplies
Department.
The MSP operations for Maize were also reviewed. It was informed that the
production of Maize would be in the range of 20 lakh MTs during the Rabi.
In order to free the godown spaces, a letter was sent from the Chief
Secretary to the Food Secretary, GOI for tendering and auctioning the
Kharif Maize stocks lying with Markfed. This has been felt essential for
enabling Markfed to carry out MSP operations smoothly.
Reachout's News Bureau
April' 2009
