Raichur: The district administration has decided to open procurement centres on the premises of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs) in Raichur, Manvi and Sindhanur on May 12 to purchase paddy from farmers.

It also finalised the procurement price at Rs. 570 per quintal for all varieties of paddy except Sona Masuri variety.

Deputy Commissioner Tushar Girinath, who convened a meeting on the issue here on Tuesday, held a detailed discussion with all officials concerned of the Agricultural and Revenue Departments and the APMCs.

The meeting decided to procure all varieties of paddy, except Sona Masuri at Rs. 570 per quintal. It asked the farmers to make their own efforts to market Sona Masuri variety as it had demand in the market. The Deputy Commissioner told the meeting that they needed about Rs. 17 crore immediately to procure about 25 per cent of the total production of paddy in the command areas.

Funds sought

It would write a letter to the Government seeking release of Rs. 2 crore immediately and the remaining funds in phases as and when required. The procurement centres should purchase paddy from farmers only in case of fall of prices below the minimum support price in the market, he said.

He asked the official concerned at the Agricultural Department to depute graders at all procurement centres for grading paddy brought by the farmers.

Rajashekar Patil, chairman of the Sindhanur APMC; Satish, secretary of the Raichur APMC; Thimmaiah, Deputy Director of the Department of the District Food and Civil Supply; and officials of the Agricultural Department were present.

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