NEW DELHI: The Centre has agreed to the request of the Andhra Pradesh Government to immediately release 50,000 tonnes of maize at subsidised rate to meet the requirements of poultry farmers who are in distress.

State Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy said here on Monday that Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had promised that an order in this regard would be issued at the earliest.

Kharif procurement

In addition, the State Government sought release of another two lakh tonnes of maize at Rs. 3,500 per tonne as against Rs.5,500 per tonne for the 50,000 tonnes. When Mr. Reddy said the State was holding six lakh tonnes of maize in Food Corporation of India godowns, which should be disposed of, and create space for kharif procurement that would begin by September, Mr. Pawar said that orders for tenders would be issued within 15 days to dispose of 2.5 lakh tonnes. Mr. Reddy said maize would be distributed to farmers through the Animal Husbandry Department.

Fisheries corp. in State?

The Centre agreed to set up National Fisheries Development Corporation in the State, he said and added that Mr. Pawar asked the State Government to send the Minister concerned for talks.

Mr. Reddy said the State Government had scaled down the Vidarbha-type package from Rs. 70,000 and odd crores to Rs. 51,000 crores since the Centre said irrigation projects which had not received Central Water Commission clearance be kept out of it.

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