Error by officials deprives Krishna farmers of Rs.12.60 crore

PNS|Vijayawada

The farmers who cultivated MTU 1061, a paddy variety belonging to Grade-A (fine quality), have lost an income of Rs.12.60 crore because of the mistake made by the Agricultural and Civil Supplies Department officers in Krishna district.

As per the Central government guidelines, Rs.2,060 should be paid per quintal for Grade-A variety paddy.

During the e-crop booking and e-KYC, MTU 1061 was registered as a common grade in the app. As a result, the farmers are getting Rs.2,040 per quintal instead of Rs.2,060. The Krishna district farmers collectively lost around Rs.12.60 crore after they sold their paddy through the Rythu Bharosa Kendras.

At the same time, the same variety of paddy has been treated as fine quality and the government is giving Rs.2,060 per quintal to the farmers in NTR and other districts. The mistake was found at the time of the registration of e-crop and e-KYC and the officials informed the same to the higher authorities. But none of them responded and the problem has remained unsolved.

The farmers sold their paddy at the RBKs and told the officials concerned that their paddy was of fine quality, however, it was registered as the common grade. When the Civil Supplies Department officials started the bill payments to the farmers, they found that they were losing Rs.20 per quintal.

Subsequently, the farmers informed the issue to the Civil Supplies Department authorities. They told the farmers that from January 20 onwards, the MTU 1061 variety paddy would be treated as fine quality (Grade-A) and Rs.2,060 per quintal would be paid to the farmers. But, they did not give any clarification about the loss of Rs.20 per quintal so far, one of the farmers said.

According to the Agriculture Department, the MTU 1061 paddy variety was cultivated in around 2.10 lakh acres in Krishna district. As per the paddy procurement rules, the government is purchasing 30 quintals per acre, one an officer said. As per the Civil Supplies Department sources, around 63 lakh quintals of MTU-1061 variety of paddy were purchased.

When contacted, Krishna District Civil Supplies Department Manager Sridhar, admitted to the mistake that occurred during the e-crop registration. “The same was intimated to the higher authorities, and the problem would be resolved within a short period. Also, the department is working on the loss of Rs.20 per quintal and justice would be done for the respective farmers. The department is trying to credit the amount of Rs.12.60 crore into the respective farmers’ bank accounts,” he added.