The Hindu : New Delhi News : Centre agrees to release more rice

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Saturday, Sep 20, 2008
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New Delhi

Centre agrees to release more rice

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Union Agriculture Ministry has, in principle, accepted State’s request for release of 5.5 lakh tonnes of additional rice for public distribution system in the State.

Similarly, Union Petroleum Minister Murali Deora has agreed to release additional quantity of kerosene to the State to meet the requirements for the families living below poverty line (BPL).

Minister for Civil Supplies Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy, who met Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Mr. Deora here, told mediapersons that the additional quantity of rice and kerosene would help the State government to carry out public distribution system without any hurdle in the State.

The State contributed 71 lakh tonnes of rice to the Central pool against the required quota of 62 lakh tonnes, he pointed out.

The Centre had reduced the annual quota of rice for State to 32,82,384 tonnes during 2008-09 from 38,19,444 tonnes in 2007-08 thus leaving a shortfall of 5,37,060 tonnes in PDS.

Rice production

Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy, who was also present, said the State had reclaimed its earlier position as the third State in highest food grain production (199 lakh tonnes in 2007-08) from sixth position in 2003-04 (127 lakh tonnes in 2003-04 and 107 lakh tonnes in 2002-03).

While the food grain production in the country as a whole increased in the last fours by 165 lakh tonnes, Andhra Pradesh itself increased it by 62 lakh tonnes or 40 per cent. From an allocation of Rs.4,280 crore in 2003-04 for agriculture, irrigation sectors, the State has increased it to Rs.32,000 crore in 2008-09, he said.

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