CM for revamp of paddy collection

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has called for major reforms in the paddy collection system to ensure farmers face no inconvenience. He emphasised the importance of making essential commodities readily available to the public through the coordinated efforts of the Civil Supplies, Agriculture, and Marketing Departments.
During a review meeting at the Secretariat in Velagapudi, Amravati, CM Naidu addressed various issues including the paddy collection system, the supply of ration rice, the door delivery system’s performance, and price control of essential commodities. He criticized the previous government for mismanaging the paddy collection system, which had left farmers in a difficult situation, and assured that such problems would not recur. He highlighted delays in the payment to farmers and complications in purchasing rain-soaked paddy as major issues.
CM Naidu pointed out that until 2019, the debts of the Civil Supplies Department stood at Rs 21,622 crores, but these had ballooned to Rs 41,550 crores under the previous YSR Congress administration, severely impacting the department’s functionality.
He directed officials to prioritise controlling the prices of essential commodities in the state, asserting that effective coordination between the Agriculture, Civil Supplies, and Marketing Departments is crucial for this task.
Officials reported that 2,372 counters have been set up by the Civil Supply Department to sell pulses and rice at prices significantly lower than market rates. For instance, Red gram (toor dal), priced at Rs 180 in the market, is being sold at Rs 150 through these special counters, and rice is being sold at Rs 48 per kg.
The officials also revealed that 9,260 vehicles were purchased for Rs 1,844 crore for the door-to-door delivery of ration, but the initiative did not achieve its targets. CM Naidu urged the officials to propose solutions to these issues and explore ways
to effectively utilize ration dealers.