The Hindu Business Line : AP posts record paddy procurement of 1 cr t

Hyderabad June 26 Andhra Pradesh has registered a record in paddy procurement, with various agencies contributing a total of one crore tonnes during October 2006 to June 2007. The figure for the comparative period previous year was 88.32 lakh tonnes. In 2003-04, the State procured 77.83 lt.

The farmers were paid Rs 6,513 crore for the paddy procured.

A senior official of the Civil Supplies Department said the millers dominated the procurement process with 93.18 lt (84.45 lt ).

SHGs role

However, it was the contribution of women self-help groups (SHGs) under Indira Kranti Patham,a World Bank-funded programme to eliminate rural poverty.

The SHGs procured 3.84 lt. "The farmers could save a lot on transport, while getting the payments much faster," the official said.

Procurement centres

On an experimental basis, the Government opened 592 procurement centres run by women in rural areas last year. "Each of these centres would cater to a cluster of villages near by," he said. Last year, the MSP (minimum support price) for `A' grade paddy was Rs 650 (including a bonus of Rs 40) a quintal. The MSP for common variety was Rs 620.

With regard to rice, the millers delivered a quantity of 43.62 lt of rice during 2006-07 as against 37.79 lt of rice procured in the previous year.

The Union Government allotted 120 rakes for movement of two lakh tonnes of boiled rice to other States in June.