The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : SHGs to deal in paddy too

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Thursday, Oct 18, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

SHGs to deal in paddy too

Correspondent

To offer support price

Six centres opened for procuring paddy from November 1
Community resource persons to train SHGs in the process

VIZIANAGARAM: Following the success in procurement of maize through self-help groups last year, the district administration has now decided to adopt the same formula in paddy procurement.

At an awareness meeting on paddy procurement here on Wednesday, Joint Collector M. Jagan Mohan said that six Indira Kranthi Patham centres were opened at Badangi, Jami, Vepada, Bhogapuram, G.L. Puram and Pachipenta for procuring paddy which would begin from November 1.

These were in addition to 18 procurement centres of the FCI, MLS points and Agriculture Market Committees.

Middlemen at bay

He said that the groups would do grading and offer support price as fixed by the government – Rs. 675 plus Rs. 50 as bonus per quintal for ‘A’ grade variety and Rs. 645 plus Rs. 50 bonus per quintal for common variety.

The administration imparted training to eight CRPs (community resource persons) in procurement and marketing of paddy, maize and pulses.

They would in turn train SHGs and motivate farmers to sell paddy at the centres in order to avoid middlemen.

The decision to involve SHGs was taken after traders from other districts had, while offering higher price to farmers, cheated them during weighment last year, the Joint Collector said, and added that Deputy Tehsildars (Civil Supplies) would assist the SHGs.

More stocks

The Joint Collector said that more stocks were expected at the centres this year because paddy was raised in 2.5 lakh hectares, including SRI variety in 300 ha, in the district.

Payment to ryots

Project Director of DRDA Vasudeva Rao said that the groups would be given lumpsum amount to lift paddy and make on-the-spot payment to farmers.

The paddy so procured by the groups would be sieved and transported to nearest rice mills.

The profits earned out of the procurement and marketing process would be deposited in the accounts of village organisations.

District Supply Officer Narasimha Murty and CRPs were present.

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