Bhuvanagiri, Nov.9 (NSS): Union Minister Kishan Reddy today lashed out at the State government for not paying heed to the problems of farmers in paddy procurement process. “If the farmers’ grain is sprouting in the procurement centres for the last 25 days, will the Revanth government not feel angry at all? The Congress has become a curse for the farmers,” he alleged.
Kishan Reddy inspected the paddy procurement centres at Pochampally mandal headquarters in Yadadri district. On the occasion, he enquired about the problems of the farmers. It was brought to the notice of the minister that even after 20 days, the Congress government was not buying the paddy. Following this, the Union minister called up the district collector. However, when the Collector’s phone was switched off, he spoke to the additional collector. He expressed his anger over non-availability of facilities to farmers at procurement centres.
He said the transport, bags, bag sutil, hamali charges and so on would be paid by the Centre to the State and added that the Central government also gives commission to the IKP, including the Civil Supplies Department. “If the State government borrows money from the bank for purchases, the interest will also be paid by the Centre. What is the difficulty of the State government in buying the paddy of the farmers,” he asked.
He said the Congress government had completely failed in procuring paddy. He alleged that the middlemen were buying paddy from farmers at a lower price as the government was not doing the grain purchases.
