Vadrevu Srinivas | DC
KAKINADA, APRIL 23
Rice millers in Kakinada district are not purchasing the Bondalu variety of boiled rice paddy from farmers currently. They say the boiled rice paddy rate in Tamil Nadu is cheaper than the Minimum Support Price being offered in AP. Thus they cannot purchase the Bondalu paddy for processing and export the same to the markets in Kerala.
Konaseema is known to cultivate good quality Bondalu variety of paddy. There is a great demand in Kerala for the boiled rice made out of this paddy. But rice millers are currently not purchasing the Bondalu paddy, as the MSP of paddy is ₹3,369 per quintal. The boiled rice price is ₹3,900 per quintal in Kerala.
According to a rice miller, even if they purchase Bondalu paddy at MSP from farmers, the cost of converting it into boiled rice will be ₹3,800. It will thus be not viable for them.
Kakinada District Rice Millers Association president V. Suribabu told Deccan Chronicle that it will be better for farmers to sell their crop, including Bondalu variety of paddy, at MSP to the government.
The amount of the rice procured from farmers will be credited into their accounts within 24 hours. Farmers will not have to pay the transport and loading and unloading charges, Suribabu pointed out.
Given the situation, farmers are showing willingness in selling their paddy to the government.
Incidentally, East Godavari district has the target of procuring one lakh tonnes of paddy.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
